Maison MDW - Le Lorrain

This flagship housing project of the Contrat de Quartier Maritime aims to open up the interior of a fully built-up block and provide a breath of fresh air to the street through a large window that opens onto the complex.

It seeks to give new impetus to the Brussels district through a strong, contemporary, and contextually appropriate architectural and environmental intervention that benefits the community by preserving the district's industrial history and scale.

It features a variety of housing typologies: simplex, duplex, and triplex units with 2 to 4 bedrooms, arranged in an apartment building and three houses that use different elevation strategies to create a more familiar interplay of scales and invite light.

A wide passageway runs through the heart of the site, creating a space for residents to play and meet. Each house also has its own private garden and a small forecourt at the entrance, creating a transitional space that combines communal space with a private entrance.

Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Program

4 apartments and 3 single-family houses

Location

Rue Le Lorrain 6-8 – 1080 Molenbeek‑St‑Jean

Client

Commune de Molenbeek‑St‑Jean

Conception

2006

Completion

2011

Status

Built

Surface

1 484 m²

Consultants

Waterman TCA, MK Engineering

Photos

Julien Lanoo

Awards

2013 / 2012 - Belgian Building Awards, Public housing (nominee), 2011 - Prix Belge pour l'Architecture et l'Energie, Collective housing (nominee)

Maison MDW - Le Lorrain
Maison MDW - Le Lorrain