159 De Mot Brussels

The De Mot office buildings date from the 1960s and rise above a residential street of two- and three-storey houses. Their construction replaced a villa and its extensive sloping garden, dating from 1898, together with a row of terraced houses. The gardens became the roof of a large underground car park, leaving a largely paved site disconnected from the street. Close neighbours, but distant.

Transforming these existing buildings offers an opportunity to create generous homes while renewing their relationship with the neighbourhood.
How can buildings designed for work become a place where 500 people live? How can office floors that are 22 metres deep accommodate housing while retaining the character of the existing architecture?

Living in depth opens up unexpected housing typologies with strong spatial qualities and compact, efficient layouts. The depth of the buildings creates room to be generous elsewhere. A communal kitchen, a sports room and co-working spaces offer places to meet and support a shared sense of belonging.

Soon, people will live on both sides of Rue De Mot again. Around the buildings, a green landscape extends the public space of the street, with generous trees rooted in open ground. The landscape slopes down to the former basement, creating a new ground floor with direct access to homes and shared amenities. A shared garden at the back and collective terraces on both roofs offer further places to gather, relax and spend time outside.

Reusing sections cut from the concrete slabs, office doors and granite tiles reduces the need for new materials while retaining traces of the buildings’ former life. The homes become part of an existing architecture with a distinct character.

The project brings generosity to residents and neighbours alike. Through new homes, shared spaces and greener surroundings, the buildings become part of the neighbourhood again.

Good neighbours, at last.