A glass pavilion following minimalist principles of architecture may look very eccentric in the gardens of an old pastor’s house. Not for the community in Moorsel, a village in Belgium, who enthusiastically embraced the project signed by De Kort Van Schaik Van Noten, a team made up of De Kort Van Schaik and Van Noten Architects. Aiming to integrate the two buildings with the characteristic ensemble of presbytery and walled garden, the architects opted for steel and glass as predominant materials. As a result, the two pavilions – a community hall and a youth club – shine in the area, providing a contemporary stylish make-up to the historical site. The hall is used by village residents for parties, meetings and the occasional film night, while the second structure forms a new home for the village youth group. The two pavilions are separated by a strip of landscaping containing a stage and seating area. More details on Dezeen.
The architecture allows the public to experience the atmosphere of the historical heritage. The two structures feature glass walls with black steel frames, concrete floors, and a flat timber and steel roof.
The community hall is situated closest to the old stone church, while the youth club sits at the bottom of the garden in a more wooded area of the site. The architects left the existing building unaltered, adding two new structures along one side of the site to house the multi-purpose hall and self-contained youth club. They also opened up the existing walled gardens to create a public park.
