Cohousing Boterberg

In 2016, B-architecten transformed this 19th-century castle estate into a cohousing project. The castle now accommodates a psychotherapy practice, graphics agency, rental apartment, two guest rooms and a communal function room and kitchen for the residents. 7 families have moved into the gardener's house, barn and stable complex. During the renovation, the architects paid specific attention to the historical character of the site and thus managed to preserve the uniformity of the building cluster. The monumental driveway initially takes you past the castle, and then a second driveway appears that takes you to the cohousing project. The communal brick path stands out from the narrower private gravel paths that branch off to the front doors. Residents gather on the collective path that connects the three buildings. Covering fourteen hectares, the castle estate shares a border with Kalmthoutse Heide. The residents turned it into a communal garden with a swimming pond, orchard and vegetable garden and small private gardens for each residence. Having incorporated minimal changes and having been awarded the Immovable Heritage prize, B-architects have demonstrated that heritage and new ways of living can easily go hand in hand.

This project was opened on the occasion of the 2019 Day of Architecture. The text is based on a contribution by Amélie Van Isacker.