Heilig Kruiskerk
The Heilig Kruiskerk has been transformed into a multifunctional space, including out-of-school childcare (IBO), event, ceremonial, exhibition areas, and an outdoor playground. This project, along with the renovation of the village square, has turned the heart of Boekhoute into a meeting place for everyone, from young to old, locals to newcomers, and believers to non-believers.
Inspired by Antonello da Messina's Saint Jerome in His Study, a new pavilion is introduced into the church. This amorphous structure invites people to linger, but also to move in, on, around, and through it. Its position and shape are molded in response to the church’s architecture. The form defines interior spaces and simultaneously shapes the remaining space in the church. Conceived almost as a piece of furniture, the object mediates between the small scale of the child and the overwhelming scale of the church. To meet the demands of fire safety, climate control, and acoustics, the childcare unit is designed as a closed volume within the church. Inspired on the archetype of the pulpitum, a functional backbone separates the childcare area from the public space while simultaneously housing shared amenities such as the kitchen, storage, and restrooms. The design follows the principles of circularity and preservation. The original church floor is largely left untouched, while the new structure rests on existing foundation pillars to avoid unnecessary demolition. All added materials are lightweight, flexible, easy to dismantle, and ready for reuse—ensuring a sustainable and future-proof intervention.
Childcare
The childcare center occupies the church's nave and aisles, with a clear entrance through the main portal. The space is open and connects directly to the outdoor playground. New openings are made in the side wall, discreetly integrated into the church’s mass. The indoor and outdoor spaces are visually connected to maintain a clear view for supervisors. Upstairs, smaller and more private spaces for older children offer a contrast to the open ground floor, with strategic openings that highlight the church’s architectural features. The indoor play area on the ground floor flows seamlessly into the child-friendly green outdoor playspace, that is designed with simplicity and sustainability. Strategic landscaping, including the repositioning of trees, a series op play elements and a green beech hedge, creates a safe, enclosed environment, while maintaining a calm and serene atmosphere at the heart of the village.
Eventspace
The event space in the transept serves as a flexible buffer and circulation area, adaptable to various uses with acoustic curtains and movable partitions. It acts as a connection between all spaces, enhancing accessibility for different functions. The public facade of the pavilion includes a sculptural staircase, combining seating for 60 people and access to the exhibition space, forming a meeting place for the community.
Exhibition space
The exhibition space weaves through the project as a connecting gesture, offering visitors a journey that reveals the church’s architecture and the childcare facility. It invites exploration and offers new perspectives on the existing building.
Ceremonial area
The ceremonial area remains in the priest’s choir, accessible from the sacristy or, if desired, through the event space. A more flexible and permeable solution for the separation between the transept and the choir reflects the church’s open character.
