Rooftop view of the narrow gabled infill house among tiled roofs
Rooftop city view toward a tall concrete tower
White façade model with an angular roof opening between neighboring houses
White exterior model with an angular roof cut revealing timber structure
Rear façade model with a roof opening and horizontal glazed band
Double-height triangular window beside a red stair in a white interior
Red metal grid partition enclosing a stair in a bright living space
Red grid partition and curved white counter beside the stair
Open kitchen and living space with a red mesh partition and timber beam
Curved kitchen counter beside red mesh shelving and terrace doors
Narrow entrance passage with a red stair and translucent side wall
Cutaway interior model with a timber frame and circular elements
Cutaway physical model of the timber roof structure and mesh stair

Flanked by “Porte de Halle” and “Notre-Dame de la Chapelle”, this dynamic street of Rue Blaes connects various vibrant hubs of urban activity. From the lively “Jeu de Balle square” and charming restaurants to its close proximity to Rue Haute, the energetic nightclub Fuse, and the bustling Tanner's Market, La Rue Blaes remains an axis teeming with activity throughout the day. Its diverse range of offerings caters to both family-oriented and young, dynamic lifestyles.

The property in question, strategically located in the southern part of the street, encompasses the third and fourth floors of a contemporary condominium. Currently, comprising two separate one-bedroom apartments, the project aims to merge these spaces into a three-bedroom duplex, with the living area on the upper level.

The intervention, invisible from the street view, retains the overall volume while introducing a terrace through an incision in the existing pitched roof. This unobtrusive addition / subtraction, offers views of the illustrious Grand-Place tower while ensuring complete privacy from the neighboring rooftop.

A fold in the roof's diagonal, facing the courtyard, enables the addition of a raised pitched roof. Thanks to a higher party wall, a terrace on this side is made possible, boasting vistas towards the Justice Palace.
The enhanced fourth floor, bathed in natural light, becomes a spacious, luminous, and livable space, with the third floor accommodating three bedrooms and necessary amenities, linked by a central core.

Maintaining the discreet nature of the project, the roof remains concealed from the sidewalks due to the street's width, preserving the harmonious urban fabric. By balancing historical context with contemporary functionality and architectural finesse, the transformation of La Rue Blaes embodies a forward-thinking vision for urban living.

Location
BE, Brussels, Rue Blaes
Works
Fusion of two floors
Role
Complete mission, design, and execution
Typology
Duplex
Program
Residential
Surface
135 m2
Client
Private
Engineer
Forme et Structure
Date
2019 - 2023
Status
Built
Photos
Jules Toulet

Drawings

Context axonometric highlighting the narrow infill house in a row
Exploded axonometric of the timber roof and stair structure
Stacked floor plans with hatched areas marking the intervention
Section through the steep roof, stair and stacked rooms
Front elevation of a narrow gabled infill house
Partial elevation showing the stair and window intervention
Construction section through the wall, roof junction and rooms
Axonometric of a long worktop beside a mesh storage screen

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