Known today as Hof van Egmont, the building forms part of the protected architectural heritage of the Kardinaal Mercier square: a monumental composition of five former townhouses unified into a symmetrical façade under a continuous pitched roof. Over time, the building evolved from residential use in 1835 to a care facility, undergoing profound transformations in the 1970s. This project embraces that layered history, not by erasing it, but by carefully building upon it.
The neoclassical front façade remains the public face of the building and a key element in the urban image of the square. Its strict rhythm, sculpted cornices and stone detailing are respected through reinstated entrance doors based on historical models, subtle additions such as traditional shutters, and improved accessibility.
Behind this composed exterior lies a very different reality. The internal structure and rear façade stem largely from a 1970s renovation, speaking another architectural language. Rather than concealing this contrast, the design uses it as a starting point. The apartments become spatial connectors between front and back, while targeted interventions give the rear façade a renewed presence. Windows are refined, proportions adjusted, and new openings carefully inserted. What once was a secondary elevation gradually takes on the character of a new front.
Historical research revealed that a ground-floor extension once existed on this site. This insight forms the basis for a new intervention at ground level: a transparent orangerie extending the building towards the outdoor space. Limited to a single story and remaining within the historic building depth, it creates a link between the two side façades. Entirely glazed and topped with a green roof and terraces, the orangerie re-establishes a strong connection between the building and its garden.
Living, working and moving through the building are clearly organised. The ground floor houses commercial spaces, bringing activity and visibility to the square. Above, ten apartments are distributed over three levels. With high ceilings, generous surfaces and dual orientation, they make optimal use of the existing structural grid. Every dwelling enjoys a full-fledged outdoor space: garden terraces on the roof of the orangerie, slender steel balconies refering to the neoclassical front, or recessed terraces subtly carved into the roof volume.
The building is insulated from the inside at the front and from the outside at the rear. Technical systems are fully renewed, and a geothermal heat pump provides future-proof comfort. New technical shafts are bundled into three chimneys on the roof, referencing the historic roofscape rather than disrupting it.
Hof van Egmont does not aim to be an iconic gesture. Instead, it demonstrates how a protected building can be adapted with respect, precision and confidence.
