Renovation and extension of a house in Châtelineau

In Châtelineau, in the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse area of Wallonia, STARC architecture firm led the renovation and extension of a single-storey terraced house typical of the local residential fabric, combining a roof raise with a rear ground-floor extension of approximately one hundred square metres, carried out through self-build.

The architectural approach rests on a dual strategy of vertical and horizontal extension. The roof raise follows the pitch and rhythm of the existing slopes, creating two attic bedrooms without altering the building's footprint or its reading from the street. The rear extension completes the brief while remaining invisible from the public realm, preserving the coherence of the street frontage and the integration of the ensemble within its surroundings.

The materiality maintains continuity with the existing building, painted brick and dark plinth elements, sustaining a measured dialogue with the neighbouring built fabric. The self-build approach, framed by a full architectural commission, demands rigorous constructive discipline and a rationalisation of technical solutions, making the most of the original building's compactness while delivering a significantly increased living area.

This project demonstrates how a precise and restrained intervention on a modest volume can achieve a profound improvement in residential comfort without disrupting the architectural identity of the neighbourhood.

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