The original cloister building, situated in the backyard of a rowhouse and surrounded by an intricate urban tissue of small scale, rear buildings, barns and sheds, has a surface area of 260m2. Since the building only has one sided orientation, the corner area is deprived from any natural light. Therefore, this corner piece is surgically removed from the building and replaced by a one storey volume of absolute transparancy. This spatial gesture defines 2 new facades, N-S oriented and NW-SE oriented, which results in 2 autonomous volumes with flexible programmatic infill. An outdoor room links the two volumes and cultivates an active rhetoric between indoor and outdoor space.
Although this spatial manipulation decreases the build up area by 40m2, this deduction guarantees an optimal use of space, better daylight factors, flexible programmatic infill, ... The main building volume will be used as single family house; the side volume can house two extra bedrooms, an independent appartment or a Bed&Breakfast. The 2 autonomous volumes are made of prefabricated panels with corrugated steel cladding, mounted together on site. They are structurally independent from the original brick outer walls of the cloister. This construction method guarantees an easy handling on site, bearing in mind the complex, intricate build up settings of the surrounding.
