Building in a new urban neighborhood is always a challenge, especially when constrained by a dense and rigid master plan. The plan features a series of semi-open blocks, wedged between boulevard Henri Simonet and the future RER railway line, bringing a true piece of the city to the outskirts of Brussels. Building S, the first of the two volumes we are working on, is notably long and tall, making it a prominent element of the district. Building V has a similar layout, with one façade well-oriented, while the other suffers from a lack of sunlight. To the northwest, it borders a square defined by the subdivision permit, which will create a generous space for residents to enjoy.

As the proposed volumes in the master plan are too bulky, a two-meter fringe is entirely dedicated to the housing terraces. To counter the rigidity of the imposed templates, the staggered arrangement of the terraces adds a dynamic effect to the façade. The regular grid of solids and voids in the foreground lightens the imposing character of the buildings; the double heights created allow light to penetrate deeper into the apartments.

Simple, raw materials such as reclaimed bricks and concrete are used, with a predominantly red palette, to give the building a subtle texture