G1908
Church + Masterplan (ongoing), Herentals, 2019 - ... view project

In the Herentals church project, re-use operates on two levels: material and typological. Bricks salvaged from the demolished old church were given a second life, grounding the new design in the physical memory of what was lost.

But beyond materials, the design also reclaims a forgotten spatial type—the grotto. Drawing on historical research into castle parks and their spiritual landscapes, the project revives the grotto as a space of reflection and shelter. Reimagined as a reconstructed hill formed from earth excavated on site, the vaulted interior encloses three brick volumes—a chapel, baptistery, and sacristy. This layered reuse, of both matter and meaning, anchors the new church in its context while offering a timeless, contemplative space.

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