De Muze

The façade, which matches the nearby buildings, is made of red bricks, alternately flat or with a relief, according to a checkerboard pattern. In contrast to the exterior skin in bricks, the patios and the roof terraces are finished in smooth white plaster. Openness, approachability, light, air and spaciousness are characteristic of these outdoor spaces.

The V-shaped columns that create a passage to the reception area, have an inviting character. The architectural concept, based on colours, atmospheres, materiality, as well as the organisation of clusters around communal spaces, originated from the principal of sensorial perception of the elderly. All living units have approximately the same shape and surface. Making the ceilings 3 metres high was a deliberate choice to create a more spacious feeling, without increasing the ecological footprint.

The garden around the building forms a soft buffer for the care centre and is developed according to the principles of a cohousing project. In addition to the landscaped garden that can be experienced as a park, there is also a vegetable garden and orchard. A wadi, integrated in the landscape, offers an ecological solution for the excess rainwater. On the street side is the cafeteria, which is used as a small community house that stimulates interaction with the environment.