1918 – Major conversion of a Brussels house in Uccle

The spatiality of light: elevating the existing to a new dimension

Le présent projet, à Uccle, porte sur la transformation lourde d’une maison mitoyenne typiquement bruxelloise, organisée sur plusieurs niveaux et prolongée à l’arrière par un jardin. La verticalité de la maison constitue le point de départ d’une réflexion sur les circulations et les relations entre les espaces. L’intervention sur les escaliers, leur articulation et leur imbrication redessine les parcours intérieurs et favorise une communication plus fluide entre les différents niveaux.

The new spatial layout also draws on a combination of openings, transparency and interior perspectives. The through-views connect the rooms, whilst natural light penetrates deeper into the heart of the house, thanks in particular to a skylight situated above the stairwell. The materials used, particularly the wooden finishes, complement this transformation and help to create visual continuity between the spaces, whilst lending them a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Our practice provided support throughout the project’s design phase, particularly in the development of a single-flight spiral staircase to replace the old double-flight staircase, as well as in the construction of a walkway on the first floor. The conversion thus offers a fresh interpretation of the existing house: rather than simply juxtaposing spaces spread across several storeys, it seeks to connect them organically and give them an overall coherence, with light, perspectives and movement serving as the project’s guiding principles.