Urban high-rise

Bijgaardehof, Ghent

Municipal company Sogent purchased a vacant factory on the former Malmar site in Ghent and asked architects BOGDAN & VAN BROECK to create a design for an urban housing project. Sogent then put out a call for candidates for its cohousing project. This call generated considerable interest, prompting Sogent to continue the project with housing plans for three groups (59 families) and a community health centre. Construction is expected to start in early October 2019.

This cohousing project inspired a design that retains as much of the original factory walls as possible and creates a building tailored to the wishes of its residents. The community health centre and a shared parking area with 24 spaces will be integrated into one of the buildings. Each building will also have room for bicycle parking. The communal areas will be distributed throughout the three buildings, including common areas near the garden on the ground floor and shared living areas, a guest room, green roof terraces and a 'field' on the upper floors (with solar panels on the roof). The stairwell and external galleries have been spaciously designed to encourage interaction among residents. The garden, designed by LAND landscape architects, links the three buildings and the three groups. Each building has its own entrance in the former factory walls.