Duchesse House by Notan Office – Transforming Industrial Heritage into Contemporary Housing in Brussels

Located in the heart of Brussels, Belgium, the Duchesse House by Notan Office redefines the possibilities of adaptive reuse by converting a historic industrial courtyard into a vibrant housing ensemble. Completed in 2022 and spanning 1,080 m², the project skillfully blends the past, present, and future through sensitive restoration, material authenticity, and a community-oriented spatial design.

Preserving Industrial Identity with a Contemporary Twist

Notan Office, a Brussels-based architecture and urban design practice, has established a reputation for transforming industrial sites into livable housing while safeguarding their original identity. The architectural approach for Duchesse House focuses on reusing in-situ materials and structural elements, ensuring that the project does not erase the site’s historical DNA but instead adapts it into a new living typology.

Rather than replacing the industrial heritage with white-plastered facades or artificial finishes, the design celebrates raw materiality—exposed concrete blocks, reused doors, reorganized tiles, and existing shed structures. Every element is treated as both functional and ornamental, emphasizing sustainability and authenticity.

Microcity Concept: A Village Within the City

Situated near Brussels’ canal in a historically industrial neighborhood, the project sits within a dense urban context. The plot, originally composed of a late 19th-century townhouse and two long industrial halls, has been reimagined as a microcity.

By carving out new spatial relationships within the existing built mass, Notan Office created three multi-oriented housing volumes organized around a generous shared garden. This layout introduces fluid transitions between public, communal, and private spaces, evoking the atmosphere of a small urban village.

From the main square, residents and visitors enter through a modest door that gradually reveals a layered sequence of collective courtyards, semi-private gardens, and private terraces. This continuity strengthens the sense of belonging while also maximizing daylight and outdoor connections for each dwelling.

Shared Ground Floor for Community Living

In line with the idea of fostering collective living, the ground floor is programmed with shared amenities. Bicycle storage, a glass-brick atelier, and semi-private outdoor spaces encourage social interaction while respecting privacy. Transparency, openness, and visual connections define this level, creating a natural extension of the community garden at the project’s heart.

Genius Loci – Respecting the Spirit of the Place

Central to the design is the principle of Genius Loci—the preservation of the spirit of place. Instead of erasing industrial traces, Notan Office incorporated them into the design narrative. The new red volume, a bold abstract form resting on a transparent base, references the industrial past while adapting to contemporary housing needs.

Walls along the courtyard edges have been “inflated” to house technical infrastructure such as bathrooms, kitchens, and circulation, freeing living spaces to open towards natural light and garden views. This organic reconfiguration ensures every dwelling benefits from spatial quality unique to its context.

Material Integrity and Sustainable Reuse

Material authenticity defines every layer of Duchesse House. No artificial finishes mask the structural honesty of the project:

• Concrete blocks remain exposed.
• Former shed structures are integrated into new volumes.
• Porphyry tiles are reorganized into new outdoor pathways.
• Reused doors and elements give each home a sense of history.

This approach not only reduces construction waste but also highlights a sustainable architectural ethos rooted in reuse, reinterpretation, and respect for heritage.

A Dialogue Between Past and Present

Duchesse House embodies the seamless coexistence of industrial memory and contemporary living. It transitions from an industrial complex to residential housing without erasing its origins. The result is a distinctive urban living environment—at once modern, communal, and deeply connected to Brussels’ industrial heritage.

All Photographs are works of Stijn Bollaert