Social housing Ranst
Client:
LMHLier
Location:
Ranst
Realization:
2016 – 2022
Design team:
Tom Verschueren, David Driesen, Nandi Degrave, Lennart Visser
Structural engineer:
Tecon
Engineer Techniques:
Tecon
Photography:
Sergio Pirrone
Size:
14 houses en 12 apartments
Residential courtyard on the outskirts of a village
The social housing project is located on the Speltlaan between Ranst and Lier and consists of five volumes that include 14 social rental homes and 12 social rental apartments. The rural environment, with the white water tower as a landmark, inspired the concept of a residential area. The homes are linked around a green inner courtyard, emphasizing the collective aspect of living. The courtyard is activated with play elements, a picnic table, vegetable gardens, etc., to promote contact between residents.
The main goal is to create a cohesive living environment while still prioritizing the distinctiveness of each home. This is achieved by incorporating design elements that make each space easily recognizable and distinct. The design does not focus on large-scale construction but rather on small-scale volumes tailored to the size and scale of a family. Despite the density of the project, the buildings are made on a human scale. The site corresponds to the parcels of the adjacent residential area through a network of slow lanes.
The architecture is characterized by modest and small-scale design, creating diversity in terms of form and materiality. The buildings are created with classic materials that are processed and detailed in a contemporary manner. For example, the joints and joinery are executed in different colors per volume. The roof overhang of the homes is used as an architectural element that binds the homes into one unit and creates a sense of scale reduction, resulting in familiar architecture that creates a feeling of security.
The main goal is to create a cohesive living environment while still prioritizing the distinctiveness of each home. This is achieved by incorporating design elements that make each space easily recognizable and distinct. The design does not focus on large-scale construction but rather on small-scale volumes tailored to the size and scale of a family. Despite the density of the project, the buildings are made on a human scale. The site corresponds to the parcels of the adjacent residential area through a network of slow lanes.
The architecture is characterized by modest and small-scale design, creating diversity in terms of form and materiality. The buildings are created with classic materials that are processed and detailed in a contemporary manner. For example, the joints and joinery are executed in different colors per volume. The roof overhang of the homes is used as an architectural element that binds the homes into one unit and creates a sense of scale reduction, resulting in familiar architecture that creates a feeling of security.