HISTORY

The existing Maria Home had not been used since the residents moved to the new De Plataan Residential and Care Facility. Discussions centring on the re-use of the building (among others for the administrative services of the social public welfare centre or OCMW) had been ongoing since 1995. Finally, none of the potential uses proved to be suited to the building and it was decided to demolish it.
The first discussions with architects concerning the use of the land date from September 1999.
The OCMW’s Board approved the adapted sketches of the “social house” by mid-2000.

PROGRAMME

1. SOCIAL HOUSING:
Housing for physically able senior citizens with limited access for wheelchair residents.
- Six one-bedroom apartments (VHM* type 1-2, living space of 52-62m² +2m² storage space)
- Six two-bedroom apartments (VHM type 2-3, living space of 62-76m² +3m² storage space)
- Ten one-bedroom dwellings (VHM type 1-2, living space of 52-62m² +2m² storage space)

* VHM: Vlaamse Huisvestingsmaatschappij, Flemish Social Housing Authority

2. SOCIAL HOUSE:
Administrative centre, mainly for the social services of the OCMW and a number of logistical departments. C. 620 m² net work space, in addition to the existing building.

STARTING POINT

Using the existing administration and surface area required to centralize social services as a starting point, the "social house" constitutes a homogenous base, bearing the two floors with apartments and dwellings. The apartments on this base, of which the entrance is situated on the other side, are all equipped with a completely different level of finishing, as regards the materials used and the design. The dwellings have been conceived within the base, on a square. The base makes up a visual demarcation of the group of 10 dwellings. The architectural design of the dwellings refers directly to that of the apartments.
The sloping roofs of the apartments and the dwellings emphasize the small-scale nature of the surrounding architecture and also provide an answer to it.

MATERIALS USED

1. SOCIAL HOUSE AND APARTMENTS
The entire building has a cellar, and a 380-cm grid has been used, on 570-295-570cm, in function of the modulation of the facing bricks.
The entire ground-floor is designed as a base, which supports two floors with apartments. The base is built of grey masonry (190/45/90), with pennants measuring c. 1 metre, between which equal strips of outdoor joinery have been inserted.

The ground-floor level is load-bearing from the external façade to the central section. This central section consists of load-bearing masonry and comprises all the “fixed” programme sections, such as sanitary facilities, archives, etc.

Above the base are the apartments, which are a variation on the same theme as the dwellings. The roof and the façade sections have been covered with facing tiles and the upper building is modulated in the same way. The intermediate sections also consist of cedar wood planks.

The roofs have no gutters against the eaves. The water is collected at the bottom of the facades. Rainwater drainage is carried out within the building via the shafts.


OTHER MATERIALS
- Roof tiles separated from planks by means of metal structure.
- Structure of the sloping roofs by means of sandwich panels without intermediary roof beam or truss.
- Bottom of the sloping roofs is visible; ready for painting.
- Remaining structure by means of traditional load-bearing masonry.
- Vertical connection block out of shuttering system.
- Gangway at the back made up pre-fab concrete elements.
- Parapet in coloured glass.
- External joinery in thermal interrupted lacquered aluminium
- Blinds on the facade on the side of Kokelaerestraat (facing south).
- Terraces made of 30 x 30 concrete pavers on tile on tile bearers.
- Additional facilities for the drainage of the facing tiles.
- Floors 30x30 cm ceramic tiles.
- Faience in the sanitary facilities up to a height of 2 metres.
- Inside joinery ready to be painted in the dwellings; melamine in the offices.
- Heated by means of own firing system. Distribution of gas costs in energy units, directly connected by modem with the utility company.


- Base constitutes the main foundation plate.
- Tiles separated from plank cladding by means of a metal profile.
- Structure of the sloping roofs using sandwich panels without an intermediary beam or truss.
- Underside of the sloped roofs is visible, ready for painting.
- Remainder of structure using traditional load-bearing masonry
- Outside joinery in thermal interrupted lacquered aluminium.
- Floor ceramic tiles 30x30 cm.
- Faience in the sanitary facilities up to 2 metres’ height.
- Inside joinery ready to be painted


2. DWELLINGS
All ten dwellings fit on a low square base, which also surrounds the gardens. The grey brick that is used is the same as the brick used for the Social House. The roof and the facade sections are clad with large facing tiles. The intermediary sections also consist of cedar wood planks.

The roofs have no gutters against the eaves. The water is collected at the bottom of the facades. Rainwater drainage is carried out within the building via the shafts.

OTHER MATERIALS
- Base constitutes the main foundation plate.
- Tiles separated from plank cladding by means of a metal profile.
- Structure of the sloping roofs using sandwich panels without an intermediary beam or truss.
- Underside of the sloped roofs is visible, ready for painting.
- Remainder of structure using traditional load-bearing masonry
- Outside joinery in thermal interrupted lacquered aluminium.
- Floor ceramic tiles 30x30 cm.
- Faience in the sanitary facilities up to 2 metres’ height.
- Inside joinery ready to be painted

- Heating, individual (use of De Plataan's heat-coupling system did not prove to be profitable)