A remarkable social housing project has been completed on Grande Haie Street in Etterbeek, Belgium, where architectural firm P&P Architectes has successfully transformed a pair of residential buildings from 1924-1925 into 50 modern social housing units. The 4,192-square-meter project, completed in 2025, represents a thoughtful balance between heritage preservation and contemporary architectural intervention in the heart of Brussels.
The project's approach prioritizes meticulous restoration of the street-facing facades, which embody the distinctive architectural character of the 1920s era. P&P Architectes, led by architects Arnaud De Lanève and Lionel Philipperon, carefully replaced PVC windows with timber joinery that faithfully recreates the original design. The team also reinstated the original entrance doors and gently cleaned the preserved heritage features, demonstrating a deep respect for the area's social housing legacy and ensuring continuity with the neighborhood's architectural identity.
The rear portions of the buildings take advantage of excellent south-facing orientation to maximize natural light and openness. The architects reconfigured the mansard roofs and enhanced them with generous dormer windows, respecting the original building volumes while significantly improving spatial efficiency. This approach enabled the creation of homes specifically tailored to meet the program's requirements, with interior interventions that remain true to the building's character through the preservation and restoration of original wooden and terrazzo staircases.
Contemporary additions and vertical extensions showcase a more modern architectural language at the back of the structure. These new volumes, clad in standing seam zinc that echoes the materiality of the original roofs, feature staggered balconies that create a dynamic rhythm across the rear facade. The carefully integrated terraces provide valuable outdoor space for residents while also functioning as sunshades to improve indoor comfort. At ground level, treated timber cladding offers a gentle transition to the gardens and helps anchor the new volumes within the landscape.
The outdoor spaces have been completely reimagined to foster community life among residents. The rear green spaces were transformed into private gardens, connected by soft pathways that link the stairwells to a shared central courtyard. A newly created passageway through Rue Fort de Boncelles improves pedestrian and cyclist access to the heart of the block, encouraging social interaction and community engagement. The landscape scheme includes shared gardens, seating areas, and a sports pitch, all conceived as natural extensions of the living spaces.
The project utilized high-quality materials and worked with several manufacturers including VMZINC for the metal cladding. General construction was handled by Jacques Delens, with structural engineering and consulting services provided by Tractebel. The design team's careful attention to both historical preservation and modern functionality has created a model for thoughtful densification that enhances the overall living environment while respecting the neighborhood's architectural heritage and social housing traditions.
