— Project intent
A precise answer to the site and programme.
The conversion of a historic barn into a residential dwelling in Bonlez, in Walloon Brabant, is rooted in a careful reading of the site's rural identity and a commitment to preserving the original volume and massing. The pale pink rendered finish, the clay tile roof and the climbing vegetation that inhabits the facade together form a coherent ensemble that guided the architectural approach from the outset.
The residential programme is contained entirely within the existing barn envelope, with no volumetric addition that might compromise the legibility of the overall built composition. Fenestration is handled with restraint, allowing natural light to enter while respecting the facade rhythm characteristic of this type of agricultural building. The ambition of the project lies in this balance between minimal intervention and residential comfort.
Materiality drives every implementation decision. The rendered brick is retained as the reference surface, and all new elements are designed to enter into quiet dialogue with the existing fabric rather than contrast with it. STARC, an architecture firm based in Gembloux, led this conversion project by maintaining the compactness of the volume and preserving the relationship between the building and its green setting, which is the very foundation of this place's identity within the rural landscape of Walloon Brabant.
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