Herfstvreugde Genk

The project area is located in Schaapsdries, a quiet residential area close to the city centre. Genk's location on the steep edge of the Kempen plateau has been decisive for the development of the city. The city centre is located just southeast of the plateau. The transition is not gradual but rather abrupt in the form of a steep edge. Two streams originate in Genk: the Stiemerbeek and the Dorpsbeek. Both streams originate on the plateau and form a clear incision in the plateau towards Demer. The city centre of Genk is located in the incision formed by the Dorpsbeek. The Herfstvreugde site is located on the northern steep edge of this incision. The site is connected to the Molenvijver park and the centre of Genk by a footbridge. Herfstvreugde is one of Limburg's first retirement homes. The plan, designed by architect De Paepe, dates from 1967 and was completed in 1974. The existing building has several spatial qualities: it opens up widely to its surroundings, makes clever use of the natural relief, has optimal sunlight exposure, and its volume is legible and elegant with a curved main wing and two transverse wings. These qualities led to the decision to preserve the building during its repurposing.

Living in green surroundings

The existing greenery is the site's greatest asset. The conversion of the building will maximise the relationship between the building and the garden. Experiencing nature is the focus of the future residential project, both physically and mentally. The aim is to achieve the best possible relationship between inside and outside without unduly impacting the privacy of the various residents. Each home in the project will have a generous covered terrace. More than ever, a private outdoor space determines the quality of a home. Not only the joys of autumn, but of all seasons will be part of living in this special place throughout the year.

Respect for the existing

The existing building is slender and has a high degree of transparency: this is by far its greatest quality. Light will be the main ingredient of the future quality of living. The concrete skeleton structure of the curved main wing allows for a free and flexible layout with different types of dwellings and literally creates space for changing insights into future forms of living. This allows the building to adapt and grow along with these needs in terms of programming.

Flexible shell

After a thorough analysis of the existing building, all extensions on the north side of the main building will be removed. The extensions to the main volume on the east and west sides will also be demolished. The long curved main volume will remain and form the backbone of the new design. A new open vertical circulation core will be added on both sides of this existing volume. All apartments in the existing building are directly accessible from these new cores, together with a new open core centrally located in the existing building. Adjacent to the new circulation cores, the existing right-angled wings on the west and east sides are replaced by new extensions. These new additions aim to reinforce the elegance and slenderness of the existing main building and anchor the renovated whole as a 'park building' in time. Like the existing building, the newly constructed parts are designed as flexible shells that allow for internal transformations.

Appropriate collectivity

The project deliberately targets mixed resident groups. Residents will soon be able to meet each other informally in the garden and in the communal areas on the ground floor. The social sustainability of the project with community facilities is translated into intergenerational housing. The site will accommodate homes of varying sizes and specific qualities. Together with the appropriate degree of collectivity, these form the richness of the project. There is something for everyone, allowing us to respond to the changing housing needs and preferences of a broad target group: young first-time buyers, newly formed families, single-parent families, young senior citizens who are postponing the move to a residential care centre, informal carers, Genk families with a migrant background, occasional guests, possibly residents, doctors from ZOL and so on. An inclusive housing offer that consciously opts for co-living.