Set against the backdrop of the typical Flemish countryside stands the new – and rather unconventional – police station in the municipality of Brakel. The general threat level 4 seems a world away from this peaceful village. The architectural practice ORG for permanent modernity offers a fine example of what a ‘Police House’ might look like in the post-22 March 2016 era. Here we take a closer look at this new project, which was recently honoured with the prestigious Honor Award for Design Excellence from the Boston Society of Architects.

Situated alongside the N8 road, the new Brakel police station presents itself as the ‘Police House’ – a welcoming police station that contrasts with the current security policy imposed on such a scheme. The curved building allows the street to flow into the station, drawing the public inside. This design also incorporates a carefully controlled system of openings. The windows on the front façade are narrow to preserve staff privacy, whilst at the rear, the windows are wider to offer beautiful, framed views. Whilst the tarmac of the N8 extends towards the landscape behind the building, it is this very landscape that reaches right up to the street thanks to the visual connections provided by the car park. The perforations in the car park’s metal mesh vary depending on the viewer’s height. This interplay of transparency reveals the beautiful church in the background and skilfully engages with the landscape.