Hub

Kadox Housing Complex

Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens

KADOX HOUSING COMPLEX

HUB

CATEGORY
Mixed Use Architecture, Residential Architecture, Apartments

YEAR
2016

ARCHITECTS
HUB

AREA
4325 m²

LOCATION
Geel, Belgium

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ilse Liekens

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Bart Biermans & Koen Drossaert

MANUFACTURERS
AutoDesk, Engels ramen en deuren, Sto, Floren Bricks, Winsol

DESIGN TEAM
HUB

CLIENTS
Re-Vive nv.

COLLABORATORS
Bureau Bouwtechniek, ABT, E-ster

Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens

Text description provided by architect.

The Kadox project forms part of a new city block currently being developed in the Cadix district of Antwerp.

Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens

Cadix is a large-scale suburban development that connects with the ongoing Eilandje development.

The entire block is characterised by a mixture of housing typologies in terms of size, dwelling type and target group.

Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens

This mixed residential environment centres around a common courtyard garden, offering both high-quality accommodation and ground-floor residences. Project Cadix comprises a corner of this suburban block.

The above-mentioned mixture can also be found at the level of the individual buildings.

Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens

Our design comprises a double-high plinth with ground floor “bel-étage” town houses in passive solar construction and above them, one to three layers of low-energy apartments. Ground-floor retail spaces can be found on the corner of the building.

The ground floor dwellings are long and narrow. Each is structured around a private patio, ensuring deep penetration of sunlight and maximum surface of facade, despite their relatively enclosed location.

Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens

The upper-floor apartments are, by contrast, wide and shallow, guaranteeing spacious terraces and good-quality views.

This stacked approach, together with the access created on the street side, results in a sculptural corner volume that is well adapted to the adjacent streets in terms of scale.

Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens

The deep, ground floor dwellings with their restricted height reflect the more small-scale and intimate character of the courtyard garden.

The building is constructed via a concatenation of large movements in nevertheless tight, rhythmic succession, using recognisable elements and robust materials.

Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens
Kadox Housing Complex
© Ilse Liekens

It thereby succeeds in developing a distinct character from these elements while at the same time alluding to the historical morphology and architecture of the surrounding neighbourhood.


Kadox Housing Complex
Ground floor plan
Kadox Housing Complex
1st floor plan
Kadox Housing Complex
Situation

Hub
T +32 3 2813129
Hub
Rijnkaai 22, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium