Changing Scenes: Extensions in Ghent
With 250,000 inhabitants Ghent is, after Brussels and Antwerp, the smallest of Belgium's three major cities. Its medieval heart and densely built-up surrounding residential areas provide a varied cityscape. In addition to a diverse building stock the local architecture school provides a fertile breeding ground for contemporary architecture. Moreover, Belgians place a high value on the acquisition of one's own home. Small residential projects for young families form the majority of commissions for newly established practices and a local style has developed, which is characterized by radical solutions, raw materiality and a collage-like plasticity. A hidden specialty of the local building culture is rear house extensions in urban neighbourhoods. Many older houses have in the past been extended with new kitchens and bathrooms that have created a break between the living area and the garden. According to current building codes, the ground floor area may be built to a depth of 18 m and a maximum height of 3.5 m. The creative exploitation of this stipulation is a major area of focus for local architectural firms such as Gafpa and Atelier Vens Vanbelle.
