Beguinages are delicate and refined cloister like urban islands in which the sequence of scales and the privacy gradient are precisely designed. We wish to monitor that sensitivity and, where possible, to restore it. We do not create one space but several subspaces with a strong visual link. These include the church ruin, the beguinage corner, and the garden of Z33, each with their own subtle identities within the overall garden space.
As designers, we wanted to restore the balance between the various players without having to work historically. Having been bombed in the Second World War, the church now lies as a ruin, and the surrounding gardens have become leftover spaces, resulting in the overall complex being a shadow of its former self. The garden must be the protagonist in the new balance. That’s why we have transformed the church’s footprint into a reflective pool within the public garden, providing a space for contemplation and ensuring the continued significance of the ruin within the complex. The only built addition to the site is a panoramic belvedere in the southern corner. This bold intervention rises above the beguinage wall, acting as a wayfinder for visitors to the city.
The students of the University of Hasselt are given a place to live and work in the beguinage houses. We create sober interiors where subtle interventions solve contemporary problems. New, functional volumes are restoring the room structure of the beguinage.