Redevelopment of Three Historic Houses

We took an empathetic approach towards the renovation of the three nineteenth-century buildings in the Leysstraat in Antwerp. Our design strove to eliminate the disconnect between the opulent facade and the dilapidated interiors, and to breathe new life into the property. We adopted a formal strategy that, like the facade, was both eclectic and accumulative. The buildings have been reconfigured into two apartments per floor. Party walls and chimney breasts were knocked through to create dramatic openings and connect the room structures. This gave rise to new and doubled circulation routes, which feel spacious thanks to the use of steps and deep perspectives. The building reveals surprises around every corner. Sympathetic materials were chosen for the interiors, while archways and coloured accents elevate the quality of the rooms. The attic has its own unpolished and coarser atmosphere.