Sociale woningen Cadix

The project is for the Cadix neighbourhood in Antwerp, which is characterized by a specific structure, architecture and maritime atmosphere. It’s a quiet district, at walking distance from the city centre and the main cultural axis. The programme consists of an underground car park, a day-care centre, thirty social housing units (to rent) and twenty-five social housing units (to buy). We aimed for a mixture of various typologies ranging from one to five bedrooms.

Volumetrically, the L-shaped plots are divided into two blocks. By opening up the corners, we realise volumetric breathing space. The plinth escapes the cutting movement and passes through what results, at ground level, in a significant partitioning of the inner area. Research conducted into the plan gave rise to an intrinsic solution for the façade, as seen in the vibrant, modulated and rhythmic frontage. The logic leaves enough room for French balconies and terraces, that latter of which are a seamless extension of the floor levels and lend a horizontal accent to the building. The light and shade created by the surface modulations, and the subtle materials and colour differences, all enhance the building’s tectonic qualities. Brick and concrete were chosen for the front construction, two robust and solid components that reflect the other materials used in the redevelopment of the Cadix neighbourhood.