Growth in the back yard: House TP by dmvA in Mechelen

The story of how House TP has come about in Mechelen, Belgium, is one of shrinkage and growth. In the beginning there was a building located in a workers district, one with a northward-facing and constantly shady back yard taken up by a single-storey annex. It was here of all places that the new owner wanted to grow vegetables. To provide the plot with at least some outdoor space, dvma Architects had the rear of the building removed with the exception of a steel beam, which they had painted yellow and complemented with two new ones. This solution forms the supporting structure of what is probably the country's most unusual greenhouse, one floating at first floor level above the back yard and solely accessible from the first floor of the house.

The architects had all the walls inside the existing building removed, with the result that the interior now make a spacious impression despite have a living area no larger than 80 square metres in size. Walls, floors and ceiling were clad in 'rough-and-ready' OSB board. The owner's kitchen is situated on the second floor and the bedroom and bathroom on the first one. A new, single-storey annexe containing a further living area has been added on at ground-floor level but leaves space for an open entranceway into the back yard, which is also used as a carport. dmva also replaced the heavy garage door with a vertical bar gate and had it painted white like the exterior walls.  The house is thus not only to provide its occupant an appropriately comfortable home but also introduce new life to the formerly dark street.

Further information:

Contracting business: Dirk van Hemelrijck
Gross floor area: 90 m²
Living space: 80 m²