BUSO apartments

Client: Stad Mechelen
Location: Mechelen
Realization: 2006 – 2011
Design team: David Driesen, Tom Verschueren, Astrid Geens, Christine Loos, Michaël De Roeck
Structural engineer: Util struktuurstudies
Photography: Bart Gosselin & Frederik Vercruysse
Size: 2000 m²
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Publications


Urban concept
Buso is situated in a 19th century industry-axis alongside the canal Mechelen-Leuven. The site is located in the middle of a building-block and is accessible by alleys. It consists of a large industry building with a few smaller volumes and a house at the side of the canal. The existing outdoor space was limited and very fragmented. The urban goal was to give the dense industry site space and air again and to restore the original building by demolishing the later built volumes.

Architectural concept
The closed industry building contains two floors. By demolishing the roof- and floorplates, patios and an inner street are created which allow the sun to enter the middle of the building. All the lofts are accessible from the semi-public inner street. The inner street is connected via stairs to the alleys through the building block.

Materiality
To enhance the spirit of the old industry terrain, the exterior of the factory is cladded with Corten-steel panels. The inner walls of the patios, the inner street and the added volumes on the roof are finished with poly-carbonate panels.

In short, old versus new, massive versus transparent, rough versus polished, dark versus light.

Architectural concept
The closed industry building contains two floors. By demolishing the roof- and floorplates, patios and an inner street are created which allow the sun to enter the middle of the building. All the lofts are accessible from the semi-public inner street. The inner street is connected via stairs to the alleys through the building block.

Materiality
To enhance the spirit of the old industry terrain, the exterior of the factory is cladded with Corten-steel panels. The inner walls of the patios, the inner street and the added volumes on the roof are finished with poly-carbonate panels.

In short, old versus new, massive versus transparent, rough versus polished, dark versus light.