— Project intent
A precise answer to the site and programme.
The renovation of a historic farmhouse and its outbuildings in Aische-en-Refail, in the province of Namur, transforms this rural heritage into two distinct dwellings while preserving the authentic character of the existing structure.
The architectural approach is rooted in a careful reading of the original building, whose robust massing and traditional materials form the foundation of the intervention. The removal of load-bearing walls allows for a reorganisation of the interior spaces, establishing a fluid circulation between the two residential units. Converting the farmstead into two separate homes requires a rethinking of thresholds, boundaries and shared uses without undermining the integrity of the whole.
At the heart of the project, a glazed extension of approximately 45 m² mediates the transition between the renovated farm building and the garden. Light and contemporary in character, this addition houses the kitchen and dining area, offering a direct relationship with the surrounding landscape and a quality of natural light that the historic fabric alone could not provide. The deliberate contrast between the existing stone and the transparency of the new glazing underlines the temporal layering of the ensemble.
Designed by STARC, an architecture firm based in Gembloux, this project exemplifies a sensitive approach to rural renovation in Wallonia, where dialogue between old and new, material restraint and quality of living guide every architectural decision.
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