Dorpshuis

We gambled and lost. But no less proud for it. It wasn’t what they asked for, but it’s what we proposed. The city council of Ichtegem sought a brand-new build for a mixed-use programme: offices, a social shop, and a library. But when we visited the site, we were surprised. The existing building wasn’t just decent, it was beautiful. And nowhere near beyond saving. So our proposal focused instead on partial preservation. A new architectural "coat" wrapped around the existing structure, creating a compelling interplay between old and new, while upgrading its sustainability. The roof housed all entrances and marked each one through distinct gestures and forms. And we added something else: a communal bread oven with a towering chimney.
We didn’t win. But the project lives on in our hearts.

The new structure paid tribute to the old. A concrete frame: rational, but playful. Strict, but permissive. In places, the floor slabs are deliberately left out, like in the café, opening up dramatic views. Elsewhere, the grid is defined by columns in an open space, or used to carve out a compact office landscape.