Physical model of the timber portal and tall partition wall
Physical model of a timber portal frame and freestanding wall
Physical model of a compact timber-lined retail threshold
Street rendering of renewed shopfronts beneath retained façades
Perspective drawing of a two-storey communal hall around a worktable
Photographic survey dividing the existing storefronts into structural bays
Hands positioning red programme blocks in a site model
Hand placing a dark object beside red blocks in the site model
Hands arranging red programme blocks across the site model
Axonometric floor plan filled with furniture and activity zones
Long building section through the two-storey collaborative hall
Axonometric diagram of dispersed workstations between structural bays
Axonometric diagram of a central gathering around a shared table
Axonometric diagram of a crowded event within the open structural grid

The project site, centrally located near Molenbeek's railway tracks, gains strategic significance by connecting to the existing Bekkant metro footbridge, fostering accessibility to the new youth center for local residents. The design aims to preserve the existing façades and maintain the site's identity, promoting a participatory approach.

Entirely constructed in wood, the project utilizes reclaimed wooden profiles, promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness. The flexible construction system allows for easy adaptation and a "do it yourself" ethos.

The layout follows the existing volumes, employing perpendicular axes on the ground floor and parallel ones on the upper level. The design incorporates accordion walls, ensuring versatile spatial arrangements. Outside, a green space integrates with the interior, promoting biodiversity and water conservation. The entrance lobby serves as a multifunctional space, connecting the street to the garden and accommodating seasonal variations.

Location
BE, Brussels, rue Jean-Baptiste Decock
Works
Renovation, extension, and requalification
Role
Complete mission, design and construction
Typology
Patrimonial industrial building
Program
Youth center
Surface
1983 m2
Client
Municipality of Molenbeek
Association
Raamwerk / NO90
Partners
JZH, ATS
Date
2020
Status
Competition, 3rd Place

Drawings

Structural axonometric of intersecting timber portal frames
Site diagram marking the initial retained area within a structural grid
Final programme diagram dividing the site into varied blue zones
Phasing diagram extending a blue programme bar across the grid
Phasing diagram adding light-blue service zones to the site

Contact

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