wiels
WIELS, a conversion of a terraced house for Charlotte and Destin.
Situated along a brick road, the house looks typically Flemish with its red brick and many cottages - including those next door. The plot is rather narrow and deep and is also accessible at the back via an alley. Between the garden and the main house is a deep rear building that obscures the view of the garden. As a result, the outdoor space has few qualities.
Yet we retain the rear extension under the typical gable roof. But the intermediate floor disappears, creating a double-height space. We extend the rear extension even further, but in width. The dining area stretches between the plot boundaries, as a double-height space with two ridges. The roof is literally doubled. The courtyard becomes an enclosed patio. The extension gets a panoramic window that looks out fully onto the garden. The outer wall between the rear extension and the patio is retained and runs through the dining area as an inner wall with a tablet. A steel truss spans the entire space under the double ridge roof. The interplay of old and new windows offers surprising vistas. The window tablet of the new sliding window invites as a spacious bench between garden and seating area.
The materials of the extension are straightforward. We let the West Flemish red via the bricks and joinery play a key role, in addition to the typical concrete fence slabs applied as floor tiles. In the main house, we place particular emphasis on the original elements (fireplaces, door casings, tablets, skirting boards, -). The ‘ad random’ pattern and the specific colour of the floor tiles give the typical house back its shine and individuality.
