In Nekkersputstraat, on the edge of Ghent city centre, stands a dilapidated residential tower block. The building, which dates from the 1970s, is managed by social housing association De Gentse Haard – recently merged into Thuispunt Gent – which would prefer to demolish it. It has appointed Dierendonck-Blancke-Lust-Van De Ginste architects (DBLVa) to investigate the future of the site, with a view to building several single-family homes. However, as the structure of the residential tower is in good condition, the firm does not agree with this. Initially contrary to the assignment, it is preparing a thorough renovation and extension of the apartment building.

The original, long and narrow, eight-storey building consists of two cores with four mono-oriented apartments around them. Load-bearing brick walls, spaced at regular intervals of 360 cm, are perpendicular to the long facades and the floor plan. These facades are perfectly oriented to the west and east, with varied views of the Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen nature reserve and the city centre, respectively. DBLVa capitalises on these advantages by transforming the residential units into ideal dual-aspect homes. It does not obstruct the view with external circulation and creates a central corridor in the building every three floors, around which the transverse duplex apartments are arranged.