Housing Development Minerve

Within the master plan by Architecten Achtergael, Areal Architecten designed an ensemble of 21 ground-level dwellings on the Minerve site in Edegem, named Maier — a tribute to Vivian Maier, whose gaze lends poetic depth to the everyday. Developed in collaboration with Achtergael Architecten, ECTV and Areal, the car-free neighbourhood forms a sustainable urban fabric where green, water and living are intricately intertwined. The dwellings are arranged in three clusters, each composed of four housing types that vary in width, layout, and the position of the living spaces and (roof) terraces. Passages weave between street and park, creating permeability and moments of encounter. At the threshold between private garden and park zone, the garden room acts as a flexible intermediary — functioning as a garden extension, studio, or living space. The water-resilient design captures and infiltrates rainwater for the site and its surroundings. A district heating network, powered by waste heat from a nearby PET bottle factory and managed by Warmteverzilverd, makes Minerve a model for circular and collective sustainability.