Blaf tlG
BLAF Architecten
Gent
For the roof extension of this corner house in the city of Ghent, BLAF Architecten opted for a sober monochrome volume. From the street, the extension looks like two connected rooms on top; in plan it appears to be an L-shaped volume. The volume was placed on a bold roof edge, making the extension seem like a ‘hat’ for the existing building. This crisp ‘head covering’ functions as an inverted plinth for the existing building. The plain grey plaster contrasts starkly with the weathered brick façades, and the fine zinc roof edges counter the dark wooden window frames below. Without altering the original house, the appearance of the building has been updated and refreshed, and the street corner has become a characteristic moment in the streetscape.
- Louis De Mey
This project is part of the exhibition Composite Presence in the Belgian pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
BLAF architecten: "Since 2000, a new dynamic was created by the city of Ghent in this very dense and multicultural district, followed by small-scale private renovations like this, which contribute in return to the revaluation of the neighbourhood.
The lightweight prefabricated wooden extension literally forms the crown on the renovated work and highlights the corner building as a landmark in a street pattern with a complicated structure. A light wooden CLT structure is chosen, which strengthens the extension as a connection to the existing structure. The existing facade continues to seek contact with the surrounding buildings, while the slight topping-up seeks light and views towards the wider environment."
