The Seefhoek neighbourhood in Antwerp is currently being thoroughly renovated. Project Wilgenstraat –commissioning the construction of 318 residences spread over four plots – is part of this. Following the masterplan and given the considerable number of requested units, the new architecture will be inevitably monolithic, implicating a break in scale with the immediate neighbours.
site plan
Three offices – DBLV, RE-ST and platform architectuur
– each take on a part of the overall project. The employed methodology is the
same, but the actual design is unique, in line with their own design language
and the specific location of the plot and its persistent preconditions.
ground floor plan
The result is an architectural ensemble of four
volumes in three signatures. Wilgenstraat thus emerges as a triptych, a unity
through diversity. Particular attention has been paid to the corners of the volumes.
For example, the north-east corner of the ‘ampersand’ building opens completely
towards the Wilgenpark. Similarly, the four outer corners of the ‘accolade’ are
sculptural nods to the immediate surroundings. Through the lively and inhabited
plinth, the volumes are immediately connected to each other, and social control
is guaranteed. Without exception, all the houses are compact and transversal,
structurally flexible and stacked and compartmentalised in a logical way.
typical floor plan
Location: Antwerp
Procedure: competition
Client: Woonhaven Antwerpen
Structural engineer: Mouton
Technical engineer: RCR