The Social House Oudenaarde project transforms the existing residential care center into a multifunctional building that provides space for a social house, a local service center, a daycare center, and offices for social partners such as Child and Family. Thanks to the concrete skeleton structure of the original building, major renovations could be carried out without modifying the supporting structure, ensuring both stability and sustainability.
The flexible layout of the spaces makes future rearrangements easy, contributing to the long-term usability of the building. The ground floor is designed for public functions such as a social restaurant, a social grocery store and the daycare center. A widened and transparent entrance hall creates an open meeting space, designed as an accessible “market.”
For energy-efficient operation, modern HVAC systems have been integrated to ensure an optimal indoor climate. In addition, the techniques used, such as high-quality insulation and energy-efficient installations, focus on sustainability. The newly landscaped indoor garden provides a safe play area for children from the day care center and encourages interaction with residents of the adjacent residential care center, enhancing social dynamics.
This project is an example of how building techniques and stability can contribute to a future-oriented and multifunctional social center.
