Reconversion Chapel - House (built), Ninove, 2016 - 2022
The Chapel of ‘Onze-Lieve-Vrouw ten Beukenboom’ in Ninove is being repurposed into a dwelling. A light steel structure is pushed against the east wall and makes the generous space habitable.
Two profiled steel intermediate floors cantilever over a porch structure on the chapel’s central axis. They are precisely trimmed by the semicircular choir, the old front door and a slender spiral staircase connecting the different floors.
A single new doorway in the choir breaks open the closed character of the chapel and looks wide over the fields behind.
GAFPA and Studio Staal are joint winners in the residential buildings category of the 2022 steel construction competition with project G1609.
The jury, led by Stéphane Beel, praised the conversion of the old chapel into a home with adapted internal volume formation as a modest and reversible achievement. ‘The lightness of the steel structure complements its stone shell and forms a respectful contemporary addition.’ www.infosteel.be
Belgian Building Awards 2023, Public Prize Award + nomination Sustainability Award
Belgian Building Awards 2023, Public Prize Award + nomination Sustainability Award, 14.03.2023
With the repurposing of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw ten Beukenboom chapel, GAFPA was nominated in the Sustainability category and also received the Public Choice Award.
