Study For A Structure Sketch Of St. Kathelijne Waver, Belgium 2003
Client: Municipality St. Kathelijne Waver

The Maenhoeve area, a vast open piece of land that has acquired its own distinct landscape character due to the interaction between nature and human activity, lies in the vicinity of St. Kathelijne Waver. It is accessible via informal entrances and is largely enclosed by dense overgrowth. To gain insight in the issue of how scale and density influence the choice of building form, a number of architectural archetypes were projected on this development area. The conclusions of this preliminary study were elaborated into a design strategy.

The existing landscape, with its open character and variable water stream, was the starting point for the scheme to which a new green structure with amenities such as playgrounds was added. In conjunction with a pattern of compact construction areas and the corresponding infrastructure of access roads, these forms make up a new architectural framework that takes its raison d’être from the location. An essential element is the presence of the Maenhoevebeek (stream) and its catchment area. The conditions determined by this stream demand a design with zones for exceptional vegetation, plank-bridge routes, and construction on artificial mounds (known in Dutch as ‘terpen’). A landscape blueprint forming the binding element in the neighbourhood is thus created.

A catalogue of building types has been developed for the construction areas. They are mutually exchangeable and respond to the required diversity, flexibility, and possibility of phasing. Eventually, on the basis of all the preconditions, it will be possible to choose a combination in which an attractive differentiation and a suitable density are blended into a neighbourhood with an innovative residential style in the historically generated landscape.