Refuga Wintergarden Tower: A Sustainable Residential Landmark in Hasselt

Revitalizing the Herkenrode Barracks

In 2015, a consortium of architectural firms—Atelier Kempe Thill, Abscis Architecten, UAU Collectiv, and LAND Landschapsarchitecten—won a competitive bid to transform the historic Herkenrode Barracks in Hasselt, Belgium. This ambitious urban redevelopment project aimed to merge historical preservation with contemporary residential living, integrating sustainable architecture and community-centered design.

The transformation sought to densify and repurpose the former military block into a vibrant residential quarter while maintaining the medieval city’s character. Central to this vision was a green oasis, a newly established park replacing former infantry drill grounds, seamlessly connecting the urban environment with nature.

Introducing the Wintergarden Tower

To enhance the housing supply while maximizing available land, the design team introduced a nine-story residential tower at the heart of the green block. The Refuga Wintergarden Tower stands in contrast to the solid brick architecture surrounding it, embracing transparency and openness through its extensive glass facades. The structure balances historic integrity with modern living by emphasizing lightness and visual permeability, creating a striking dialogue between past and present.

One of the tower’s defining features is its strong horizontal design, complemented by cantilevered corners and winter gardens, which blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. This design approach also ensures an optimal connection to the surrounding landscape and offers panoramic views of Hasselt’s cityscape.

Flexible Living Spaces with Smart Design

The Wintergarden Tower was conceived with flexibility in mind, allowing for adaptable apartment layouts. With a compact 19m x 33m footprint, the structure utilizes only two elevators and a single staircase, optimizing both space and energy efficiency. Load-bearing elements are limited to the façade and core, reducing the need for internal walls and supporting a dynamic floor plan adaptable to diverse residential needs.

Each unit incorporates expansive winter gardens, ranging from 1.7m to 2.7m in depth, creating buffer zones that improve energy efficiency and enhance living quality. These green extensions help regulate temperature by providing natural insulation in winter and shading in summer, significantly reducing the building’s environmental footprint.

Urban Living with Suburban Tranquility

Despite its city-center location, the Wintergarden Tower offers a serene and car-free environment. The integration of green spaces, pedestrian pathways, and the park’s strategic layout fosters a suburban-like atmosphere within an urban setting. To further enhance privacy and comfort, the ground floor apartments are slightly elevated and feature double-height winter gardens with surrounding greenery, ensuring a seamless indoor-outdoor transition.

A unique vertical zoning strategy defines the residential layout:

• Lower floors prioritize connection to the park and historical surroundings.
• Upper floors offer panoramic views over Hasselt’s skyline.
• Two exclusive penthouses on the rooftop feature 175m² terraces, reimagining city living with a villa-like experience.

Sustainability, Economy, and Long-Term Viability

A key goal of the Refuga Wintergarden Tower was to integrate economic feasibility with sustainability and lasting architectural quality. Several design strategies contribute to this vision:

• Compact form & efficient central access: Minimizes façade surface while maximizing usable space.
• Winter gardens as passive climate control: Reducing energy needs by acting as natural insulators.
• Robust material selection: Combining in-situ concrete, prefabricated elements, and natural wood for durability and warmth.
• Highly adaptable interiors: Ensuring long-term usability and conversion potential.

The tower’s low-energy design aligns with circular construction principles, ensuring its longevity while minimizing its ecological impact. This project exemplifies how sensitive urban densification can be achieved without compromising historical integrity, quality of life, or environmental sustainability.

A New Residential Prototype for Hasselt

The Refuga Wintergarden Tower is more than just a high-rise; it is a prototype for future urban living. Drawing inspiration from social housing projects in Zwolle and Montmartre, it presents an alternative to traditional Flemish single-family homes, offering affordability without sacrificing spatial quality.

With its generous winter gardens, open-plan loft-style interiors, and high-quality materials, the project redefines urban housing, setting a new benchmark for sustainable residential architecture. As the focal point of the transformed Herkenrode Barracks, it seamlessly integrates into the evolving urban fabric of Hasselt, proving that innovative design and historical context can coexist harmoniously.

All Photographs are works of Ulrich Schwarz.