Alexandre Franck & Charline Petitjean
Passages and porosities. ULiège (Belgium)
This project is a part of a global reflexion on the site of the Don Bosco school located in the dense district of Laveu in Liège. The project stems from the observation that the Laveu neighborhood lacks green spaces, and that the Don Bosco block, both dense and enclosed, represents a unique opportunity to create one. The goal is therefore to open up and connect the site, strengthening the green continuity between parks while offering the district a new centrality through the opening of the block, the enhancement of the existing buildings, and the introduction of new functions that meet the residents’ needs. The intention is to make the Don Bosco block permeable and traversable through visible entrances, continuous pathways, and a landscaped design, in order to better integrate it into the neighborhood.
To invite residents into the site, two landmarks structure the access points: a viewing tower made of polycarbonate and steel, visible from the district, and an extension of the existing gable, acting as a lived threshold.
The project creates a public space for residents, where landscaping plays a key role. The analysis of the existing buildings guides the placement of new functions: the more recent buildings house youth activities, while housing is located on the other side, complemented by public functions on the ground floor to activate the street and open the site to the neighborhood. Most of the existing structures are preserved, with only light and targeted demolitions to improve use and accessibility. The project’s interior organization follows the original structural grid, thereby highlighting the architecture while adapting it to new uses.
The sustainable approach emphasizes reuse and reversibility. The courtyard landscaping, taking into account environmental and ecological concerns, integrates an 800-cubic-meter rainwater retention basin, along with reused bricks for the paving.
SCHUNCK cannot guarantee the correctness of content and expression. The participants themselves are responsible for their entries. The copyright of the projects underlies to the authors, any reproduction or use of the shown material is strictly forbidden.