Ten Boomgaard Housing by WE-S architecten: A Contemporary Reimagining of the Traditional Beguinage in Bruges

Architect: WE-S architecten 

In the historic city of Bruges, where the past and present coexist in rich architectural layers, WE-S architecten has realized Ten Boomgaard Housing — a refined ensemble of seven starter homes thoughtfully arranged around a shared inner courtyard garden. Designed for young couples, singles, and first-time homeowners, the project is a sensitive reinterpretation of the traditional Flemish beguinage, infusing the spatial essence of collective living with a distinctly modern architectural language.

Urban Integration and Daylight Optimization

Located on a corner plot in a residential neighborhood, the site strategy was pivotal. The design team carefully sculpted the maximum building envelope, stepping it down on the north side to align with the adjacent structures. This deliberate gesture not only mediates the scale difference between neighboring buildings but also ensures optimal daylight penetration into the collective garden — the heart of the project.

Dual Volumes for Spatial Porosity

On the southern edge, the housing block divides into two autonomous volumes, introducing porosity into the urban grain. This spatial division is more than aesthetic; it creates permeability and access. One side opens onto a communal parking area, while the other leads to a dedicated bicycle shed and the landscaped inner garden, reinforcing an ethos of shared spaces and soft mobility.

Revisiting the Beguinage Typology

Inspired by the historical typology of the beguinage — a clustered residential form traditionally occupied by religious women — Ten Boomgaard Housing reframes it for 21st-century urban dwellers. The terraced houses, articulated through sloping roofs and vertical incisions, offer rhythm and individuality while maintaining a cohesive collective form.

Each unit subtly echoes vernacular domestic forms while addressing contemporary needs for privacy, spatial flexibility, and community integration. The result is a human-scaled neighborhood within a neighborhood — intimate yet open, compact yet generous.