— Project intent
A precise answer to the site and programme.
This residential extension project in Erpent, in the province of Namur (Wallonia), was designed by STARC with a focus on volumetric continuity and a considered dialogue with the existing building. The original house, a two-storey dwelling with attic space built in ochre-red brick, features a compact form and a pitched roof that sit comfortably within the surrounding suburban fabric. Any architectural intervention on such a reference building called for a response that respects its materiality, the rhythm of its openings and its overall scale.
Rather than pursuing formal contrast, the design approach favours a measured continuity: the extension carries forward the logic of the main volume without mechanically reproducing its forms. The junction between existing and new is carefully handled, preserving the legibility of each entity while ensuring a coherent overall reading from the public realm.
The orientation of the plot and the management of natural light guided the layout of the new living spaces, with careful attention to maintaining the quality of the existing interiors. The gentle slope of the land and the dense evergreen hedge marking the rear boundary were treated as structuring elements, ensuring both the landscape integration of the extension and the preservation of a natural green filter between the garden and the street.
#architect #Erpent #houseextension #architectbelgium #architecturefirm #residentialarchitecture #Namurprovince #STARC