Single-family rowhouse Ghent
The renovation retains the lay-out of the front house, but is searching for light and air, for scale and spatial experience in a new back house, respecting the volume of the original construction.
At the end of the 19th century, a Neoclassical row house was constructed together with a mirrored neighbouring house. Both houses got a deep rear extension under a common gable roof with a blind rear facade.
The renovation retains the lay-out of the front house, but is searching for light and air, for scale and spatial experience in a new back house, respecting the volume of the original construction.
The new supporting structure, consisting of a concrete porch, a transverse timber beam and a timber column, forms a cross shape which creates one big open space and divides it into four places: one for the kitchen counter, one for the high build-in cupboards, one for the dining table and a place where the space becomes double height and the daylight enters abundantly.
A little steel bridge underneath the glazed connection between the front- and back house leads from the front house staircase landing to a unique workplace on the first floor of the extension.
The oblique positioning of the new garden facade increases the relation with the garden and the terrace. De facade is a refined curtain wall of glass and anodized aluminium with white, timber door leaves.
The casual composition of transparency, reflection and refined construction details makes a strong contrast with the gloomy and heavy sight of the former back house.
