Reconversion to Social Housing for the Elderly

The project involves the conversion of one wing of the Sint-Isabella care home in Arendonk into 23 studios for self-reliant seniors, complemented by a cafeteria as a social meeting place. Situated at Vrijheid 100, the building — with its four storeys and distinctive roof volume — serves as a recognisable urban landmark at the edge of the town centre. The design proposes a thorough reconversion, both spatially and architecturally. Inside, the circulation is reorganised and opened up through the carving out of communal outdoor spaces, giving each studio its own entrance and sense of identity. Externally, targeted interventions within the existing structural and façade rhythm ensure a transformation that feels renewed yet familiar. Beyond its functional and conceptual reconfiguration, the project enhances the building’s sustainability, improving energy performance while the reuse of the existing structure embodies an inherently responsible and enduring approach to contemporary senior living.