Woning Verstrepen, an iconic building in the New Objectivity style, was built in 1927 based on a design by architect Léon Stynen. The residence has been designated as a protected monument. The project involved restoring the original grandeur of the building.

The façade was cleaned, but its patina was retained. All of the non-original exterior joinery (Aluminium from the 70s) was replaced by new steel joinery with insulated glazing. Moreover, the existing and original fenestration was restored and provided with insulated glazing. The entrance doors and gates were revised to restore the characteristic white, closed surfaces. Furthermore, the front lawn was redesigned. The original low gates in the garden wall returned, though they now correspond to current function as entrance and garage.

We are also brought back the characteristic, black-tiled plinth of the façade. This meant the end of the non-original blue stone thresholds and masonry and a return to the zinc thresholds and en-masse coloured matte black tiles. After all, in combination with the white, closed surfaces, this is an essential component of the façade compositions favoured by L. Stynen.

The tall, steel corner section, among others, regained its (now insulated) glazing with the characteristic oceanic structural glass. The reception room and the majestic stairwell recovered their original grandeur through a restoration of the stairs and parapet. Another remarkable feature of the restoration is that the original lime plaster was retained wherever possible, and was restored and augmented with new plaster where necessary. Moreover, the interior was subjected to the lightest possible restoration method: retention, restoration, local adjustment.

Source: Architectslab
Photos: Jeroen Peeters