The existing house dates back to the early 20th century and is located in the village centre of Elsegem — a small residential core characterised predominantly by single-family dwellings clustered in and around the heart of the village. To the rear, a spacious garden opens directly onto the surrounding agricultural landscape, reinforcing the rural character of the setting.

The house is oriented towards a generous inner courtyard space, enclosed between the dwelling and a detached barn. On the north-facing rear façade, a country path runs less than two metres away, providing a link between neighbouring municipalities. Between the existing house and the barn, a new single-storey volume is inserted.

The new structure will feature large windows on both the street-facing and garden-facing sides — allowing abundant natural light to flood the interior and framing panoramic views of the garden and the open agricultural landscape beyond. Constructed in exposed in-situ concrete, left visible on the exterior. Two cantilevered concrete elements will extend from the new volume: on the left-hand side, to provide shading for the kitchen and prevent overheating in summer; and on the right-hand side, to create a sheltered entrance to the new addition.

The existing pitched-roof house will remain entirely intact in both form and appearance. The new flat-roofed volume, restricted to a single storey, will ensure the original house remains visible from the street. With new greenery planted between the street and the addition, the extension will appear only subtly through the foliage, blending into its surroundings. The new structure also serves as a visual and functional link between the main house and the barn, while increasing privacy for the garden from the street.

Because the extension is kept to a single storey, its visual and spatial impact on the wider environment is minimal. Additional landscaped borders, planted with trees and shrubs, will further soften the view from the street and reinforce the property’s green character.

As noted, Elsegem possesses a distinctive historic atmosphere. By retaining the existing house — built in materials that echo the charm of the original village fabric — and keeping the new volume low and understated, the project integrates seamlessly into its rural and architectural context.

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