Project in the spotlight: Iconic floating volume
Iconic floating volume draws attention at new residential project in Opglabbeek
On Kapelstraat, near Opglabbeek's village square, an impressive stone volume hovering above the street immediately catches the eye. This particular architectural element is part of a residential project designed by Drieskens & Dubois and PCp Architects, and is entirely finished with materials from Nelissen Bricks.
From a competition held by the municipality of Opglabbeek, the design by Drieskens & Dubois and PCp Architects emerged as the winner. The brief was to design an apartment complex with life-proof housing units on the corner of Kimpenstraat and Kapelstraat, replacing a detached house. In addition, the building was to accommodate a new library. For this project, Drieskens & Dubois and PCp Architects collaborated with developer Bremco and contractor Haex.
"The building has three floors, with the ground floor - characterised by a transparent plinth - housing the library," said Didier Appeltans, architect and partner at Drieskens & Dubois. "The upper floors contain a mix of south-facing private apartments and life-proof living units, divided in a ratio of 2/3 and 1/3. In total, it concerns about 20 apartments. In addition, there's an underground parking garage for about 30 vehicles."
Cantilevered volume of 9 metres
The most striking feature of this nearly energy-neutral building is the 9-metre cantilevered volume that extends above Kapelstraat and covers the entrance to the library. "This cantilever is an extension of the second and third floors," explained Didier Appeltans. "The realisation of this structure without supporting columns required complex calculations. In addition to the striking volume above Kapelstraat, there are more modest cantilevered balconies on the Kimpenstraat façade, and the terraces of the upper apartments are situated on this cantilevered volume."
According to Appeltans, dealing with the level difference on the lot was an additional challenge with this project.
A unique finish with limewashed look
"The building is largely finished with a combination of facing bricks and stone strips in the metallic colour by Nelissen Bricks," Appeltans explains of the building's aesthetic. "The bricks and strips have a dark grey base with a light grey to white cement layer, creating a nuanced colour gradient. Thanks to the sandblasting, the bricks have a rough look."
"The bricks and stone strips are laid in a wild bond," he continued. "The mix of horizontal and vertical masonry gives the facade a playful character. The Metallic (N70/5) finish creates a limewashed appearance after grouting. The volume above Kapelstraat is clad with stone strips on the Iso-Façade facade insulation system, including the underside, giving the cantilever an attractive appearance."
Sustainability as a core value
The choice of bricks from Nelissen Bricks was not based solely on aesthetic considerations. "Like our firm, Nelissen Bricks attaches great importance to sustainability. Their bricks are fully recyclable and can have a second life as foundation material after being used as facing bricks. The production process is also as ecological as possible. It's nice to work with partners who share the same vision and goals. In addition, Nelissen was always there for advice when needed," concluded Didier Appeltans.
Source: Bouwen aan Vlaanderen
On Kapelstraat, near Opglabbeek's village square, an impressive stone volume hovering above the street immediately catches the eye. This particular architectural element is part of a residential project designed by Drieskens & Dubois and PCp Architects, and is entirely finished with materials from Nelissen Bricks.
From a competition held by the municipality of Opglabbeek, the design by Drieskens & Dubois and PCp Architects emerged as the winner. The brief was to design an apartment complex with life-proof housing units on the corner of Kimpenstraat and Kapelstraat, replacing a detached house. In addition, the building was to accommodate a new library. For this project, Drieskens & Dubois and PCp Architects collaborated with developer Bremco and contractor Haex.
"The building has three floors, with the ground floor - characterised by a transparent plinth - housing the library," said Didier Appeltans, architect and partner at Drieskens & Dubois. "The upper floors contain a mix of south-facing private apartments and life-proof living units, divided in a ratio of 2/3 and 1/3. In total, it concerns about 20 apartments. In addition, there's an underground parking garage for about 30 vehicles."
Cantilevered volume of 9 metres
The most striking feature of this nearly energy-neutral building is the 9-metre cantilevered volume that extends above Kapelstraat and covers the entrance to the library. "This cantilever is an extension of the second and third floors," explained Didier Appeltans. "The realisation of this structure without supporting columns required complex calculations. In addition to the striking volume above Kapelstraat, there are more modest cantilevered balconies on the Kimpenstraat façade, and the terraces of the upper apartments are situated on this cantilevered volume."
According to Appeltans, dealing with the level difference on the lot was an additional challenge with this project.
A unique finish with limewashed look
"The building is largely finished with a combination of facing bricks and stone strips in the metallic colour by Nelissen Bricks," Appeltans explains of the building's aesthetic. "The bricks and strips have a dark grey base with a light grey to white cement layer, creating a nuanced colour gradient. Thanks to the sandblasting, the bricks have a rough look."
"The bricks and stone strips are laid in a wild bond," he continued. "The mix of horizontal and vertical masonry gives the facade a playful character. The Metallic (N70/5) finish creates a limewashed appearance after grouting. The volume above Kapelstraat is clad with stone strips on the Iso-Façade facade insulation system, including the underside, giving the cantilever an attractive appearance."
Sustainability as a core value
The choice of bricks from Nelissen Bricks was not based solely on aesthetic considerations. "Like our firm, Nelissen Bricks attaches great importance to sustainability. Their bricks are fully recyclable and can have a second life as foundation material after being used as facing bricks. The production process is also as ecological as possible. It's nice to work with partners who share the same vision and goals. In addition, Nelissen was always there for advice when needed," concluded Didier Appeltans.
Source: Bouwen aan Vlaanderen
