BKMN house in Brussels underwent a renovation project led by Bauclub office, with two main goals in mind: enhancing the connection to the garden and creating brighter spaces. To achieve this, a truncated pyramid cover was added to the area between the interior and exterior, allowing a skylight to bring in soft, pleasant light. The existing masonry walls were extended, resulting in a significantly larger living room.
Rainwater is collected through a C-shaped drainpipe supported by a circular column and then directed to the ground by an ornamental chain that flows into the climbing plant area.
The new space resembles a winter garden, with different levels of floor surfaces defining transit and rest areas, transforming the room into a central hub.
The uniform tile pavement and the large window, which can be slid and folded like a book, strengthen the connection with the outside, creating a seamless space that promotes natural ventilation.
During winter, a stove on a concrete surface provides warmth, maintaining the same level as the kitchen floor and extending its functionality. The combination of concrete, wood, ceramic floors, neutral white-painted bricks, and transparent glass gives the interior a fresh and unique identity.
The fixed furnishings are aligned along the longitudinal walls, leaving a flexible space in the center for movable elements like a kitchen counter on wheels and a dining table. The old external brick wall now serves as a threshold, marking the transition to the courtyard with its characteristic openings.
The house stands proudly as part of a long line of homes that shape the street. With its five levels, including a basement and a spacious attic, it exudes a sense of grandeur. Even in these different levels, modern elements like concrete flooring, a sleek steel staircase, and beautiful natural wood paneling seamlessly blend with the existing features, resulting in a vibrant conversation between the past and the present.