The new building is located along two axes that are most defining for the campus: the hard axis of Corneel Heymanslaan and the gentle cycle connection of Groene Walleweg.

While the residence looks like a solid building block from the outside, the introduction of the courtyard typology allows for the creation of an intimate and textured inner sanctum.

Large arches delineate the public plinth, and the accommodation level reveals itself as a sober grid of windows.

The surrounding spaces are orientated towards the greenery, while the roof folds inwards, thereby creating different scales on the outside and inside.

The combination of rooms on the outside and collective spaces on the inside allows every student to enjoy two orientations and atmospheres.

The student room looks out to the city.

The cluster enjoys the garden. That way the sun is never far away.

Student Accommodation

Ghent

Ground floor

Typical plan

This location on the outskirts of Ghent is characterised by large-scale elements. The student residence is stretched into a solid volume that probes the boundaries of the site, thereby acting as a powerful player in the rough-hewn surroundings. It is intended to be a genuine home: an oasis amidst a sea of concrete and infrastructure. While the residence looks like a solid building block from the outside, the introduction of the courtyard typology allows for the creation of an intimate and textured inner sanctum. The surrounding spaces are orientated towards the greenery, while the roof folds inwards, thereby creating different scales on the outside and inside. Large arches delineate the public plinth, and the accommodation level reveals itself as a sober grid of windows. On a nearby site, team member Havana Architecten is developing an intriguing pair of sister buildings with a similar programme.

  • Design teamDirk Somers, Nicolas de Paepe, Joris Willems, Reinaart Vandersloten, Myrthe Geelen, Alba Tavares Vanhoutte, Alex Turner, Merijn Muller, Wim Boesten, Rutger Brouwers, ValĂ©rie Van de Velde, Vera Bannwart and Markus Stolz
  • LocationGhent
  • Year2017 - 2023
  • ClientUniversity of Ghent
  • Program2 Student residences of which Campus Heymans (292 rooms) is being built by Bovenbouw
  • In collaboration withHavan-a, Tecon and BEG