Waterzicht Apartments by Atelier Kempe Thill, BUUR, Urban Platform, and evr-Architecten

The Waterzicht Apartments are part of the ambitious “De 4 Fonteinen” master plan, located along the Vilvoorde canal with unobstructed views of the historic De Drie Fonteinen Park, a 50-hectare English landscape garden dating back to the late eighteenth century. The surrounding context is highly fragmented: industrial buildings sit adjacent to working-class neighborhoods with small terraced houses, while the canal and the channeled Senne River define the northern edge. A key landmark, the Vilvoorde viaduct, stretches 1,700 meters across the canal, providing a dramatic backdrop.

This complex urban environment raised important design questions: How should new architecture respond to such a diverse context? How can buildings assert their presence while respecting the scale of the surrounding city?

Architectural Strategy

BUUR’s master plan envisioned a string of powerful architectures along the canal, creating a dynamic public edge while mediating between the large-scale canal and smaller-scale hinterlands. Waterzicht Apartments respond to this strategy with buildings that form inward-facing courtyards while presenting strong, cohesive façades to the canal and surrounding streets. The development respects existing urban conditions, including a pre-existing brick building by A2O, maintaining visual and functional continuity.

Urban Planning and Programmatic Considerations

Urban planning guidelines dictated the building heights and massing. Along the canal, buildings rise to a minimum of five stories, with an eight-story corner accent at the north. The Senne-facing side is limited to four floors with fragmented volumes, ensuring a smooth transition to the scale of workers’ housing.

The ground floor is programmed to activate the public realm with shops and restaurants along the canal, while the Senne side accommodates residential units and a series of terraced houses, providing diversity in housing typologies. This mix of commercial and residential programming enhances the liveliness and inclusivity of the waterfront.

Design Concept: Terraces and Spatial Openness

Waterzicht Apartments adopt terraces as a key architectural strategy. Large apartments facing the canal include 3.5-meter-deep balconies, offering panoramic views of the park and water. The upper levels feature stepped terraces that gradually descend from north to south, optimizing sunlight exposure and creating a strong volumetric accent at the northern corner. Medium-sized, more affordable apartments are located perpendicular to the canal, while the Senne-facing terraced houses include double-height balconies, integrating both private and semi-public outdoor spaces.

All façades, both external and courtyard-facing, incorporate balconies and terraces of varying depths, responding to different apartment typologies and orientations. The inner courtyard remains visually and spatially connected to the outer façade, promoting openness and interaction between residents and the surrounding urban environment. Prefabricated concrete terraces act as an exoskeleton, not only enhancing visual cohesion but also strengthening the architectural expression of the project. Typological and morphological variations, double-height exterior spaces, and differing axes are unified into a coherent ensemble without compromising the individuality of each unit.

Sustainability and Urban Integration

Waterzicht Apartments successfully integrate high-quality urban living, landscape connectivity, and contextual responsiveness. By combining a diverse range of housing types, terraces, and public amenities, the project enhances the social and spatial vibrancy of Vilvoorde’s waterfront. It exemplifies contemporary canal-side residential architecture, harmonizing historical context, industrial heritage, and modern urban living.

All photographs are works of  Ulrich Schwarz