06
MEERLENHOF
KortrijkWell-known retail store becomes green residential place on the Leie
On the site of the former store 'Meyhui' on the Damkaai in Kortrijk, Meerlenhof is rising: a contemporary residential project that gives the city's commercial heritage a new future. The vacant store, showroom and warehouses will be integrated into the new ensemble wherever possible.
The project combines preservation and renewal. Historic facades are restored to their original glory, while new volumes match the existing rhythm and scale of the surroundings. A total of 24 residential entities are created: ground-level homes, through-zoned apartments and park apartments around a generous collective garden.
Project information
| Project |
Project
Construction of single and multi-family houses |
|---|---|
| Location |
Location
Damkaai 10-13 8500 KORTRIJK |
| Builder |
Builder
Koramic Investment Group |
| Architect |
Architect
Markland (member of Link Lab)
|
| Techniques & Stability |
Techniques & Stability
BM engineering |
| EPB, Veico |
EPB, Veico
Cubic |
| Acoustics |
Acoustics
De Fonseca |
| Closed contractor |
Closed contractor
structural work Vuylsteke |
| Interior |
Interior
Stay Studio (member of Link Lab)
|
| Program |
Program Construction of a multifamily building (13 dwelling units & underground parking), conversion of an existing warehouse into a multifamily building (6 dwelling units), conversion of existing buildings into 5 single-family dwellings and construction of outdoor space and above-ground bicycle storage |
| Site area |
Site area
3.993 m2 |
| Land intake |
Land intake
1254,59 m2 |
| Gross area |
Gross area
4.111,76 m2 |
| Completion date |
Completion date
dwellings end 2023 - multifamily housing and parking 2024 |
Site
The site is located along the Leie, near the Buda Island, in the historic city center of Kortrijk. Its location combines urban dynamism with a view of a tributary of the Lys.
The site comprises a heterogeneous development with heritage buildings and industrial structures, including parts of the former "Fabrique de plaques photiques Léaucourt" built in 1894. The historical context and the waterfront strongly define the identity of the project.
Layout
The redevelopment consists of three distinct parts. On the street side, three heritage buildings will be preserved and repurposed into five ground-level residences. Their historic facades will remain visible along the Damkaai.
Along the Leie, a new construction volume will be implanted that translates the historic facade image into contemporary architecture. This volume contains thirteen duplex apartments with terraces on both sides.
Deeper into the inner area, an existing warehouse will be retained and converted into six park apartments. A free passage between historic facades and new construction provides access to the collective garden and creates visual connections for passersby.
Underground parking will be provided with 27 parking spaces, supplemented by above-ground standing areas and bicycle storage.
Architecture & heritage
The project respects and reinterprets the existing heritage. The succession of white facades along the quay is translated into a contemporary formal language with different patterns in white brick.
Bronze-colored aluminum refers to the characteristic joinery of the former store. New extensions on the garden side are executed in contrasting materials, while the historic street facades are preserved.
The volumetry responds to the scale of the neighborhood through varying cornice heights, vertical articulation and pass-throughs to the interior area.
