— Project intent
A precise answer to the site and programme.
In Bossière, in the Walloon Brabant province of Wallonia, STARC architecture firm undertook the energy renovation of a village house in dark red brick, whose street facade asserts a characteristic triple-bay rhythm that anchors the building firmly within its rural built context.
The architectural approach is structured around a clear contrast between restraint on the street side and openness to the rear. Dark-framed windows, selected to replace the existing openings, echo the tone of the brickwork and reinforce the overall material coherence of the composition. New openings are introduced exclusively on the rear facade, bringing generous natural light into the interior without disturbing the sober rhythm of the street elevation. This orientation-based differentiation in permeability shapes the interior layout, informs the positioning of the master bedroom and organises the reorganisation of the ground-floor living spaces.
Facade insulation is applied from the interior in order to preserve the texture and patina of the original brick cladding. This decision reflects the ambition to reconcile improved thermal comfort with respect for the heritage character of the building, keeping the thickness and presence of the historic wall as the defining element of the architectural identity of the place.
This project illustrates how a considered architectural intervention on an existing building can bring together energy performance, heritage sensitivity and a renewed domestic programme.
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