The site of a former mushroom farm in Sint-Amandsberg will be the new home for ten families. SoGent bought the site and gave interested parties the opportunity to join a cohousing project. The group of residents that won the project convinced the jury with their ambitious programme. The way in which architects Els Claessens and Tania Vandenbussche (ectv) translated the act of sharing into extraordinary spatiality is amazing.

Today the plot of land waits. The old buildings have been demolished and the building permit is eagerly being awaited. Given that the project has not yet been realized, we are relying on plans, models, collages and discussions to imagine the future Cohousing Jean. What stands out at once is that the communal space goes beyond the scale of the dwellings alone. The street is also included in the collective gesture. A challenge at any rate, given the enclosed nature of the site.