Architects: GAFPA     Photography: GAFPA     Construction Period:  2020-2023     Location:  Gent, Belgium

Behind a typical row façade with a garage, a former warehouse is hidden in an overgrown urban building block. The regular rhythm of a concrete skeleton structure fills the entire ground floor of the narrow deep plot where living, studio and outdoor spaces run into each other. Two completely ground bays create a caesura between the main building and the rear building. By also cutting away the last bay, the space gets light through large sliding windows on both sides. In the centre of the five bays, an elongated opening is provided between two upright roof beams. Three metal grids slide over each other and allow the zenithal light to be filtered. The system, inspired by the cover mechanism of a packet boat, runs on wheels and can be operated manually via a ladder in the rear patio.

Text provided by the architect.