Georges House by hé! architectuur: the art of reuse and sustainable materials in a contemporary language
In the landscape of contemporary architecture, Georges House by the Belgian studio hé! architectuur stands as a virtuous example of how urban regeneration can merge environmental sustainability with quality living. Located in Anderlecht, a suburb of Brussels, the project transforms a narrow terraced house into a contemporary residence that celebrates the art of reuse and the creative repurposing of materials.
The owners, Kaat – an art restorer – and Thomas – an employee at VRT, purchased the property for their family of three children, drawn above all by the unobstructed view at the rear, which ensured excellent exposure to natural light throughout the morning and afternoon. The visual axis culminates in the view of the former Veterinary School, a 19th-century monumental complex that lends the setting its distinctive historical character.
functional regeneration: from a narrow house to a fluid, light-filled residence
The project by hé! architectuur arose from the clients’ need to reorganize and connect living spaces, bringing more natural light into the two lower levels and creating a studio for Kaat’s professional activity. The design strategy involved demolishing the old annex to reorganize the living areas vertically and create more outdoor space.
The functional redistribution touched all five levels of the building, with a more balanced division between day and night areas. The bel étage – the raised ground floor – now hosts the kitchen and dining room, while the second floor is dedicated to the living room. The most significant intervention was the complete removal of the room above the kitchen, creating a diagonal connection between the living spaces that allows the evening light from the front to penetrate more deeply into the house.
Structural modifications to the stairwell visually opened up the ground floor, improving spatial perception and making vertical circulation more fluid. This reorganization radically transformed the living experience, moving from a sequence of fragmented rooms to a continuous and permeable spatial system.
new atmospheres with reused materials: rediscovered marble, exposed brick, and raw concrete
The philosophy of reuse permeates the entire project, turning economic necessity into expressive opportunity. Kaat and Thomas embraced this approach enthusiastically, actively taking part in the collection and selection of materials. A striking example is the marble slabs salvaged from the demolition of Brussels North Station, stored by Rotor and later repurposed to clad the bathroom and form the kitchen countertop.
In the double-height spaces of the kitchen and stairwell, brick masonry was left exposed and treated with limewash, highlighting hé!’s contemporary intervention and creating a unique atmosphere that celebrates the temporal layering of the building. This choice, beyond its strong aesthetic impact, also significantly reduced construction costs.
The material approach reflects the clients’ sensitivity toward a raw, “unfinished” aesthetic, one that finds its most authentic expression in the contrast between old and new. The resulting architectural language celebrates imperfection and material authenticity, creating spaces rich in character and personality.
surviving structures and a permeable terrace: dialogue between indoors, outdoors, and natural light
A particularly innovative aspect of the project lies in the management of preexisting structural elements and their functional reinterpretation. The steel crossbeams of the former annex were preserved and repurposed to support exterior lighting, climbing plants, and sunshades. This strategy inspired the design of the new terrace, where a steel beam supports wooden joists salvaged from the demolition of the first floor.
The terrace floor consists of a perforated steel plate that allows light to filter down into the garden and studio below, creating changing patterns of light and shadow throughout the day. This technical solution not only optimizes the use of natural light but also establishes visual continuity between the different levels of the house. Georges House demonstrates how contemporary architecture can find in sustainability and reuse not just a response to environmental challenges, but also a source of creative inspiration, generating living spaces rich in character and deeply rooted in their urban and temporal context.
Photo Credits: Tim Van de Velde - archdaily.com