— Project intent
A precise answer to the site and programme.
In Ottignies, in the Walloon Brabant province, STARC has designed a new residential building comprising twelve apartments on an irregular infill plot within a heterogeneous urban context, where a period townhouse, a 1970s apartment block and a single-storey commercial building stand side by side.
Rather than mimicking the scale of neighbouring structures, the architectural approach seeks to propose a unifying volume capable of stitching together the street frontage while asserting a measured contemporary presence. The massing aligns with the prevailing building height along the street, engaging in dialogue with the adjoining block without overshadowing the historic house next door. The facade rhythm, fenestration and interplay of solid and void have been carefully considered to avoid monotony while maintaining overall coherence.
The materiality draws on a palette rooted in the local built environment, making a discreet reference to the brick that dominates the surrounding context, without resorting to a historicist vocabulary. Inside, the layout of the twelve dwellings prioritises favourable orientation and the capture of natural light, while creating permeability between the public realm and the shared circulation spaces. The depth of the plot is used to carve out private outdoor areas sheltered from the main street, offering residents a quality of life removed from the bustle of the principal axis.
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