Wooden jewelry boxes for Café Trappisten

  • Project:

    Renovation Café Trappisten

  • Client:

    Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle bv

  • Projectcode:

    2115CTR

  • Designer:

    LAVA architecten

  • Site:

    Antwerpsesteenweg, Malle

  • Structural engineering:

    Bollinger + Grohmann

  • Technical systems:

    SB Heedfeld

  • Photographer:

    Pieter Rabijns

Café Trappisten celebrates its centenary in 2023 and has been an iconic bistro in the region for many years. As an annex of the Abbey and Brewery of Westmalle, the café offers a cozy setting to taste the famous Trappist beers. Post-Covid, the owners are looking for a flexible extension to host guests more comfortably and improve accessibility to the café.

The design by architect Paul Van Aerschot from 2008, inspired by a mill blade, forms the basis. The floor plan has a central bar and kitchen, with three wings for the consumption areas, each named after a Westmalle beer. The new design extends these wings with separate pavilions, two of which have already been realized. Each pavilion consists of a main structure made up of four wooden beams that span the space. By transferring the load from one beam to another, only four columns are needed to bear the entire load, according to the principle of a reciprocal structure. This saves materials and creates a flexible, versatile space. Thanks to the open layout, these pavilions can serve as extensions, function independently, or serve as covered outdoor space via sliding doors. Centrally, the beams come together around the oculus, an opening in the structure with a large skylight for generous light entry.

The eaves are finished at a well-considered distance from the carpentry with a quarter beam filled with masonry in a cloister bond. The custom canopy above the inner passage connects with the existing structure. The wooden beams run seamlessly from inside to outside through the carpentry, ensuring an aesthetic and seamless interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Circular building was an important principle, with demountable connections made of wood and anodized aluminum. The ecological technology includes low-temperature ceiling radiators and heat pumps. The design takes sun shading and shelter into account, with cantilevers that respond to the sun and wind direction.

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