dmvA: house BVA

'house BVA' by dmvA in turnhout, belgium
all images courtesy dmvA
photographer: frederik vercruysse


'house BVA' by belgian practice dmvA architecten is a multi-storey private dwelling in a residential
neighbourhood of turnhout, belgium. flanked on both sides by adjacent structures, the simple volume
employs two dichotomous elevations to the front and back, utilizing a closed facade to the street to
maximize on privacy while completely opening to the garden behind.



back elevation


drawing on the brickwork that is predominantly present in the adjacent structures, the street facade
of the house is singularly finished in brick with porous sections marking the surface in a rhythmic
sequence. the traditionally solid material is explored in a 'knitted' manner, generating areas of permeability
in front of the windows. the resulting effect maintains natural sunlight intake while limiting unwanted
views from the street.



street elevation


in contrast, the back elevation features a translucent treatment that stretches from the wall to
the saddle-back roof. large floor-to-ceiling glass doors allow the interior to expand into the garden,
both spatially and visually. this transparent finish draws in abundant natural light as well as funnels
the atmosphere of the interior to the outdoor elements behind. the domestic programs that accommodate
the living spaces - living, dining, kitchen, bedrooms - are placed by the open side while service programs
are situated by the street.



entrance



brickwork detail



view into the entry



interior view of hallway






living room



to the back garden



(left) brickwork seen from kitchen
(right) washroom



attic space



(left) kid's bedroom
(right) circulation space


from backyard



street view



night view of street facade



schematic diagram


project info:

principal: mr. and mrs. borghs van ammel
team: david driesen, tom verschueren, sacha bratkowsky, lindsay rinckhout
general contractor: dwBO (carcase works), vorsselmans (aluminium), martens (glass)
constructional engineer: ASB
built area: 324. m2