— Project intent
A precise answer to the site and programme.
In Wavre, in the province of Walloon Brabant, architecture firm STARC designed a new residential building comprising six apartments, situated on the edge of a low-density neighbourhood in direct contact with the open and agricultural land surrounding the town. The chosen volume, three storeys beneath a hipped slate roof, responds to the scale of the surrounding built fabric while asserting the presence of a collective programme. The compact and symmetrical massing gives the building an immediate readability from the street, while a slight setback allows a semi-sunken concrete parking level to absorb the natural slope of the site without compromising the perception of the main volume.
The facade in soft pink brick, punctuated by slightly projecting window surrounds, establishes a measured dialogue with the neighbouring buildings. The fenestration, arranged in regular bays with glazing bars, structures the elevation without monotony and ensures generous natural light throughout each apartment. Gabled dormers set into the slate roof extend this rhythm and crown the building with formal coherence.
The relationship between interior and exterior is articulated through raw concrete slab balconies, whose warm brown timber balustrades introduce a welcoming materiality as a counterpoint to the brick. These elements offer each apartment an outdoor extension towards the semi-rural landscape while lending the facade a subtle relief. The restrained and complementary palette of materials contributes to the careful integration of the project within its peri-urban setting in Wallonia.
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