Four families with a shared vision. Redesigning a police station to an environmentally green and sustainable cohousing

The building was converted according to the redevelopment project of  POLYGOON Architectuur's redevelopment project into four single-family houses. The designers placed an extra partition wall that cuts through the original central bay. This intervention made it possible to preserve the interior layout and typical brick architecture of the front facade of the former police station. To ensure that the four dwellings have a similar floor area, some units have undergone a small extension, so each dwelling has a slightly different structure

Despite the uniform exterior, each family enjoys a custom-built home. The garden and bicycle storage are shared. The basement under the original volume is equipped as a communal laundry room where residents can meet casually. Here, too, there is a balance between interaction and privacy. A specific challenge for the new cohousing was to renovate in an environmentally friendly way. The dwellings make efficient use of energy and water, and mainly renewable resources, such as wood and cellulose, are used

Within the new cohousing, salvaged materials received a second life. A green roof, rainwater recovery systems, and solar heating for domestic water complete the series of sustainable interventions. Crucial for the developers was the presence of a large communal garden, so some garages that occupied the courtyard of the original building were demolished

The new residents of the former police station can now look out over the garden from their dining rooms-a breath of fragrant air in busy Antwerp. The property also has some of the space on the street side that had been paved and used for parking prior to the intervention. Since the developers among other responsible initiatives also adhere to car-sharing, this space can be used as a green area whose view their neighborhood can enjoy as well