Repurposing heritage together

Chapel, Antwerp

In the heart of Borgerhout, B-architecten and project developer Heem envision an opportunity to create a collective housing project around an existing monastic garden with a parsonage and a chapel. The warehouses and garages at the rear offer sufficient space for a project comprising 24 one-bedroom to three-bedroom homes, as well as shared facilities and offices. Six assisted living studios will also be created for people with a disability, as part of the Oak Tree Projects housing cooperative. The non-profit organisation Ondo, which has offices and meeting rooms in the gatehouse building, will provide these residents with help and support.

The collective housing project will boast a rich tapestry of communal outdoor spaces and private gardens. The closed monastic garden will be expanded to create a green, semi-public 'urban forest' that will be directly accessible from the gatehouse. Two outdoor kitchens with picnic tables will be created in secluded corners of the site. On the third floor of the gatehouse building, a community centre will be built with an outdoor pool and a sauna for residents. Construction is scheduled to start in the autumn of 2021.