OFFICE 283

The urban regeneration of Antwerp’s Den Dam neighbourhood includes OFFICE’s transformation of a former slaughterhouse into a university campus and a nearby new housing block designed by three different architecture practices. OFFICE designed the two corner buildings of this block. Both buildings share similar formal features that respond to the existing urban fabric and evoke the area’s industrial past. The long sides of the L-shaped volumes have pitched roofs in corrugated aluminium, the short sides have flat green roofs. The facade is defined by exposed concrete slabs and continuous bands of floor-high folding glass doors behind metal railings. Blind portions of the dark-green frames have either aluminium or plaster infills. The slabs are pierced by a grid of galvanised gutters that appear as slender columns on the facade. Large gateways reveal the green central courtyard to the streets, making the block more porous. All the apartment entrances are positioned along outdoor galleries overlooking the courtyard. The plan makes use of a single modular system to make diverse housing units with one, two or three bedrooms. While the ground floor is reserved for commercial spaces on the street side, common areas, including a birthday pavilion, an atelier and laundry rooms, face the courtyard.