Dark rooftop extension inserted among neighboring brick houses
View from an upper window across a tram-lined city street
Tram crossing the urban intersection outside the house
Street view of the dark rooftop addition above the brick house
Narrow roof terrace beside the dark-clad dormer
Rooftop terrace with a white railing and city buildings beyond
Dark stair rising through a white entrance hall
Short timber stair connecting two white interior levels
Open kitchen looking through to the dining and living rooms
Open living and dining rooms beneath a timber mezzanine
Long dining room with timber floors and tall street windows
Timber stair and landing beneath the sloping roof
Corner balcony glazing bringing daylight into the upper room
Black-and-white view of the existing street frontage
Black-and-white street view of the dark façade extension
Black-and-white view through an angular stairwell window
Front view of the house with its dark faceted roof addition

In this architectural endeavor, two additional floors gracefully emerge atop an existing structure, orchestrating a comprehensive reorganization of the spatial arrangement. Through the ingenious introduction of a central patio, this urban dwelling undergoes a metamorphosis, culminating in the manifestation of a dual-apartment edifice: a duplex occupying the initial two floors, and a triplex gracefully perched above.

Nestled amidst the juxtaposition of a towering structure and a more diminutive counterpart, the project seizes the opportunity to bridge the contrasting scales of the street. The extension of the roof, rather than culminating in an opaque barrier, unveils a captivating narrative of its own. Transcending the conventional notion of a blind wall, it harmoniously concludes the urban fabric by bestowing upon it an ensemble of terraces and fresh perspectives.

The journey between the various altitudes of the neighboring buildings is orchestrated with a refined grace, embodying a sense of gradual transition. The harmony lies in the delicate interplay between the existing built environment and the innovative interventions, seamlessly reconciling the dissimilar heights and merging them into an elegant continuum.

In this theoretical exploration, the architecture dances with the existing urban fabric, gracefully orchestrating the transformation of a mere house into a multi-dimensional residential tapestry. The project stands as a testament to the profound capacity of architecture to interweave scales, redefine boundaries, and sculpt transformative spaces that invite engagement, delight, and a renewed sense of urban harmony.

Location
BE, Brussels, Rue des Carmélites
Works
Two-level extension + creation of a patio
Role
Complete mission, design, and execution
Typology
One duplex and one triplex
Program
Housing
Surface
272 m2
Client
Private
Engineer
Forme et Structure
Date
2017 - 2019
Status
Built
Photos
Nicolas Delaroche

Drawings

Street axonometric showing the roof extension within the terrace
Existing street elevation of the narrow house and its neighbors
Street elevation showing the roof addition within the existing row
Diagram tracing the stepped roof profile of the infill house
Irregular house plan with the central void highlighted in blue
Building section with stacked interior levels highlighted in blue

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