Kantoor en clubhuis De Stek

In the form of De Stek in the Bourgoyen nature reserve, which houses a clubhouse for a youth nature association and new offices for Natuurpunt Ghent, De Smet Vermeulen architecten inject an archetypical, picturesque image of rurality into a suburban environment. In this setting too, the urbanised residential surroundings predate the nature reserve and the landscape experience. This building is also in a border area, on a piece of residual land between a sports centre, an oversized visitor centre and a car park. De Smet Vermeulen architecten have built a small farmstead that stands eye-toeye with the ponderous volume of the sports centre through two identical round windows. This allowed them to make use of the existing paving and underground utilities. In so doing, they aim to introduce a domestic atmosphere to a yard dominated by large-scale barns. By means of a façade in recycled brick and black planks (built by pupils on an employment project), and with red-and-white woodwork, the architects give the building a plainly picturesque appeal. The building looks as if it should be standing in a broad agrarian landscape. (...)

Bart Tritsmans - Excerpt from Flanders Architectural Review N°13. This Is a Mustard Factory