20
High Mosscher
KortrijkCONVERSION AND EXTENSION OF A COUNTRY HOUSE TO A MULTINARY HOUSE
The site is characterized by a valuable green structure with a historic country house as a central element. By demolishing non-valuable outbuildings, this heritage is restored to its full potential and repurposed into a multi-family dwelling.
A new volume is added discreetly, parallel to the existing building and set back into the landscape.
As a result, the mansion remains dominant. The new building contains additional residential units and underground parking.
The garden is conceived as a collective green space. The architecture of the new volume subtly refers to the existing mansion through rhythm, proportions and materialization, creating a calm and coherent whole.
Project information
| Project |
Project
High Mosscher |
|---|---|
| Location |
Location
Hoog Mosscher 83 8500 KORTRIJK |
| Builder |
Builder
Fortum Real Estate |
| Architect |
Architect
Markland (member of Link Lab)
|
| Techniques |
Techniques
Raco BV |
| EPB, Veico |
EPB, Veico
DND Exaqt |
| Stability |
Stability
Concreet BV |
| Interior |
Interior
Stay Studio (member of Link Lab)
|
| Acoustics |
Acoustics
The Fonseca |
| Program |
Program Demolition of outbuildings and conversion and expansion of a mansion into a 10-unit multi-family residence with underground parking garage |
| Site area |
Site area
6.978m2 |
| Design |
Design
2024 |
Site
The residential site is located southwest of downtown Kortrijk and is characterized by a valuable green structure of avenues with villas on green plots. The site is accessed along Hoog Mosscher. The existing house is included in the inventory of architectural heritage since 24/09/2009 with a high locus value according to the BKP.
Central to the plot is a stately mansion with 3 outbuildings within a historic wall. The mansion is characterized by an elegant and simple structure with valuable detailing. The materialization of the facade consists of a red flat facade brick with speccas, frames and railings in white limestone. A plinth in bluestone is present at the bottom of the facade. The area around the building is paved with gravel and a path is located on the inside of the rampart.
Stability-wise the building is in good condition, energetically the building can be updated. To the left and right of the main building are 3 outbuildings. These non-valuable volumes will be demolished. This will make the mansion look better. The house itself consists of a main volume and annex. The annex used to function as a library and was later reconfigured as a doctor's office. Because of construction reasons, the annex will be demolished.
Inplant
This will create space for an extension of the manor house. A new volume will be provided parallel to the existing building, planted between a valuable oak tree and the main building. The plan is two-part, like the existing mansion.
The implantation is foreseen to better showcase the manor house and the new annex is built backwards so that it is hardly perceived when approaching the site. The new building volume has 2 floors and includes 4 residential units. The existing mansion will be converted to a multi-family dwelling and make way for 6 residential units. An underground parking basement will be provided under the new volume.
The garden is integrally considered as a collective garden. Private outdoor spaces will be limited to the terraces near the residential units.
Materiality
The material palette of the manor house is the inspiration for the materialization of the new architecture. The existing heritage building has an elegantly simple structure. The facade has valuable detailing with a classic material palette. The new volume is humble compared to the existing volume. The rhythm of vertical modules is applied all around, creating a uniform, light and calm image. These refer to the frames of the historical exterior joinery. In the thinning of the facade, a number of terraces are cut out, creating a light whole.
For the construction of the facade, materials are chosen that refer to the existing mansion. Thus, the façade is constructed in modules with white exterior joinery that refer to the historical exterior joinery. The full panels are filled in with white natural stone, referring back to the limestone present in the mansion.
