Nominee
Upgrade and transformation to holiday home
A tearoom on the edge of the Zoete Waters in Oud-Heverlee dating back to the 1950s has been given a new lease of life as a wellness centre and luxury holiday home. The existing building was topped with steel porticos and wooden joinery before being clad with weather-resistant steel. Near the bedrooms, the weatherproof steel cladding features a specific perforation pattern that allows light to enter without compromising privacy, whilst also emphasizing the geometry of the building. An image of a birch forest has been laser cut onto the side, behind which the ventilation facilities are hidden. Because of the weight of the addition, combined with the fact that the existing bungalow had weak foundations and lightweight load-bearing walls, the superstructure is made of HEA-section steel gantries. The weatherproof steel blends in perfectly with the surrounding nature and ensures seamless integration into the landscape.