Transformation of a former orfevery towards an environment for habitation and work. One day the site was silted up. Due to partial demolitions, it obtained a larger permeability which means that each of the spaces was provided with plenty of air and light. This allows the transformation into live and working spaces. The redevelopment contains a privacy gradient between public boulevard, semipublic courtyards, private lofts and gardens.

Visible concrete was used for almost every new intervention: stairs, kitchens, structures for terraces, columns in new openings, ... The form of these additions was strongly influenced by a ‘form follows structure’ attitude the circular holes in one of the floors allows a rib structure; a balcony has a buttress and framework because of the bearing capacity of the walls behind; an opening in a load bearing wall has been replaced by a ‘XII’ shape because of the lateral stiffness; a lateral beam carrying a mezzanine allows the access to the mezzanine on one side, the passing under the mezzanine on the other side; the dimensions of the terraces in the concrete structure on courtyard 1 was adapted to the standard dimensions of industrial PE-boards,... The floors are made in ‘trivial’ concrete, and then polished.

In one of the lofts, Kerto was used (construction plywood) for mezzanines, passerelles and stairs, all dimensioned on the available sections and dimensions. The boards were glued and screwed until a thickness of 8cm was achieved, and attached to the ceiling with steel cables with a diameter of 2cm. 

Coloured glass was used in order to ‘sun’ the vertical circulation and to give it a privacy gradient.