Project - Liselot Van Gremberghe
What if we build a new spot? Where local markets are nearby? Where you express your creativity in workshops? Where the church is also a cultural center? Where you enjoy green spaces of tranquility? Where neighbors gather? Where students bike in a safe environment? A place where you can meet for a drink, to shop or just to see each other. A place that lives. I designed a new village center, located next to the Sint-Lambertus church. The church build on a four meters high platform overviews the surrounding streets and is labelled as the landmark of the village. The church has the last year some stability difficulties, a reduced visitor number and an impairment caused by a reclassification of the parishes. Questions about the future of the church arises. In the new design the church will also be used as a cultural center. The interior changed and two flexible rooms for expos and receptions are added. Also the entrance changed to the side of the church where an intime green area is created. Three new buildings form a lower market square. Local shops are organized on this level. The level above a restaurant and flexible workspaces are created. The bicycle network runs through the building, connecting this place with the other projects of fellow students. The typology of the buildings is determined by the external features of the church: round arches, high ceilings, sloping roofs and a tower. I also played with the different roof levels to compensate the four-meter-high wall.