La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry

La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - WindowsLa bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - GardenLa bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - WindowsLa bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Brick, Windows, FacadeLa bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - More Images+ 20

Rochefort, Belgium
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  220
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2018
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Johnny Umans
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Sika, MTTS Concept, Osram, Rubio Monocoat, Sapa Building System International NV
  • Lead Architects: Jean-Denis Thiry, Rita Cotugno
La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Windows
© Johnny Umans

Text description provided by the architects. The brewery bottle house of the village of Jemelle is located along the Lhomme river, which winds its way between fields and forests in the natural region of Famenne. Constructed around 1895, the building was used for bottling beer and storing the necessary beer-making ingredients.
The project involves the conversion of this space to a single-family home. The challenge was to emphasize the industrial character of this place steeped in history, while providing maximum natural light for living spaces.

La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Brick, Windows, Facade
© Johnny Umans

The interior divisions and annexes – which were added later on – were completely demolished in order to recover the original building. Only three exterior walls, as well as the brick-vaulted flooring and steel beams were preserved. But the building’s state of dilapidation made it necessary to reinforce them heavily.

La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Windows, Brick, Facade
© Johnny Umans
Plans
La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Windows, Brick, Facade
© Johnny Umans

Since all the building’s openings face north, and the south facade bordering the neighboring property does not allow for other windows, the west gable was fully opened up along its entire width to the ground floor to maximize the amount of light for the new residence, and create an opening giving out on to the garden. An independent ingress was also created from the side of Rue du Congo.

La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Windows
© Johnny Umans

Two further windows were implemented in the gables – one for the upstairs bathroom, and the other facing the new staircase. The latter was opened up above an adjoining building that housed old beer-making vats.
The staircase is located in a long dark structure of 11 meters that connects all the services on the ground floor along the south facade: a fitted kitchen, wardrobes, a toilet – which is accessed through a concealed door – and all technical building services.

La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Handrail
© Johnny Umans
Sections
La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Image 19 of 25
© Johnny Umans

A range of carefully selected new materials complements the original architecture, so that the latter can clearly stands apart from new additions: gray polyurethane resin for the floor, dark MDF panels and aluminum frames with fine metal gable moldings in order to differentiate these new openings from the old windows with blue-stone sills. The worktop and brushed stainless-steel sideboard in the kitchen are reminiscent of the industrial character of the place, while old cement pavers recovered from the brewery cover the floor of the upstairs bathroom. The brick walls were painted white to reflect a maximum of light into these spaces. A calm, understated and minimal atmosphere lends this project a timeless elegance.

La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry - Countertop, Kitchen, Sink, Windows
© Johnny Umans

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About this office
Cite: "La bouteillerie / Architecture Cotugno Thiry" 17 Feb 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/911364/la-bouteillerie-architecture-cotugno-thiry> ISSN 0719-8884

© Johnny Umans

冷静克制的比利时旧库房改造住宅 / Architecture Cotugno Thiry

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