In Hasselt, Belgium, an old barracks was given a new lease of life. To create the necessary living conditions and fully capitalise on the property, a fully enclosed glass “wintergarden house” was built in the quiet, green courtyard. 

Its qualities are visible on multiple levels: the open and airy facade design puts the large building structure into perspective and, in doing so, avoids disrupting the ensemble-like effect of the complex – all the while accentuating the juxtaposition of the new architecture with the heavier existing historical buildings and the unique spatial features of the park. Oliver Thill, Managing Director of Kempe Thill Architekten, explains the design: “With its accentuated horizontal structure and widely projecting, open corners, the architecture draws on the green park landscape, surrounding existing historical buildings and the extraordinary panoramic view of Hasselt city centre to maximum effect.”  

Urban architecture with suburban living qualities  

The approx. 50 apartments get their charm from the wintergardens, which fully enclose the insulated building. The balconies are 2.70 m deep on the east and west-facing sides, and 1.70 m wide on the north and south-facing sides. The respective length varies according to the apartment floor plan.   

As a climate buffer zone, the wintergardens extend the outdoor season by many months. However, on the higher floors, they often have to withstand enormous wind loads.  

Flush-mounted glass front for high wind load 

As a high-quality sliding element with floor-length glazing, the SL 23 aluminium system from Solarlux was chosen for the glass front. Flush-mounted glass fronts that can be flexibly opened and closed pose a technical challenge, especially on taller buildings. They must fulfil the structural requirements, while providing the necessary noise insulation and wind and weather protection properties. Also to be considered are aesthetic aspects, such as slim profile sight lines. Project Architect Oliver Thill: “We needed a high-quality product, as due to the enormous wind loads, the demands on the glass front were extremely high.”  

The selected sliding system is typically mounted in front of the guardrail and can be opened and closed easily, despite the relatively heavy individual elements. This is also assisted by the simplified self-opening system and the soft-close lock. The built-in anti-lift device and guardrail also meet safety requirements for high wind loads.  

Prototype as an alternative to the typical detached house 

The Atelier Kempe Thill views the residential building project in Hasselt as a prototype that was made possible by its wealth of experience working on two previous social housing projects. By blending urban and suburban housing qualities, the building is a affordable ideal model for urban living beyond the social subsistence level. With its large wintergardens, seamless indoor-to-outdoor connections, loft-like floor plans and high-quality materials, the project presents a real alternative to the ubiquitous Flemish detached house.