New care campus as a small town within a town

  • Project:

    Dommelhof - Reyselbergh

  • Client:

    Dommelhof NV

  • Projectcode:

    1434DOM - 1633REY

  • Designer:

    LAVA architecten

  • Site:

    Leuvensesteenweg, Tielt-Winge

  • Structural engineering:

    AB Associates

  • Technical systems:

    AA&O

  • Contractor:

    Houben nv / IBO nv

  • Photography:

    Steven Massart / Toon Grobet

  • Visualisation:

    Claar

The master plan for Campus Dommelhof consists of a nursing home in the village of Tielt-Winge, equipped with a bistro, neighborhood health center, and day facilities, all grouped around a ‘village square’. From the jury report: “Of all the entrants, LAVA is by far the party that best understood the direction we want to take with our campus. This is particularly evident in the way the campus is designed as a combination of accessibility, openness, security, and readability. The architectural execution of the mix of semi-public functions makes this campus a public place where interaction, relaxation, care, and health naturally flow into each other. For this reason, the placement of the campus excellently embodies the de-institutionalization and socialization of care in combination with its environment, which is exactly what the client is seeking.”

The Achilles’ heel of the project posed the greatest challenge: the nearby Wingebeek regularly overflows its banks, often flooding the entire site. For our specific solutions, including flood-resistant crawlspaces, erosion measures on the higher fields, and a drainage system that adapts to various flooding scenarios, we received the first prize for ‘water resilient construction’ from the Province of Flemish Brabant.

On the other side of the main road, our master plan provides for the construction of 47 assisted living apartments. The project makes optimal use of the steep terrain by nestl-ing into the hillside. The core of the project is formed by a semi-public, ecological rooftop garden, which provides access to the various homes via different outdoor staircases. This south-facing garden sits atop the open parking area and offers a beautiful view over the houses. Several paths connect to the surrounding park-like area, which will include space for a playground, various terraces, a pergola, and more.

"The realization of Campus Dommelhof Residential Care Center was an inspiring journey from the very beginning, where LAVA Architects’ vision was tangible from start to finish. From an initially highly abstract and somewhat unconventional concept during the competition phase to an outstanding interpretation of our needs and, ultimately, a remarkable design. Their creative approach and thoughtful way of working have not only resulted in a beautiful care facility but also in a place that truly thrives at the heart of our community. It was a great pleasure to collaborate with a team that perfectly translated our needs and ambitions into a sustainable and future-oriented care project. LAVA Architects turned our vision and dream—once captured on a single sheet of paper—into a breathtaking reality that our organization will cherish for decades to come, and for that, we are deeply grateful."

Koen Van Roy

Managing Director, Dommelhof NV

We use cookies or similar technologies (e.g. pixels or social media plug-ins) to optimise your user experience on our website, among other things. In addition, we wish to use analytical and marketing cookies to personalise your visit to our website, to send targeted advertisements to you, and to give us more insight into your use of our website.

Do you consent to our use of cookies for an optimal website experience, so that we can improve our website and surprise you with advertisements? Then confirm with ‘OK’.

Conversely, would you like to set specific preferences for different types of cookies? This can be done via our Cookie Policy. Would you like more information about our use of cookies or how to delete cookies? Please read our Cookie Policy.