Amidst the vast fields of East Flanders lies a small, seemingly sleepy village: Zeveren. Appearances are deceiving, as behind its calm exterior, it bustles with vitality and community spirit. Numerous associations and festival committees boost village life with local activities. The current location used for these activities needs to be demolished, and the increasingly underutilized St. Amandus Church comes into focus to once again form the heart of the community.

The design consists of a constellation of three elements: a transparent extension, the church itself, and a quiet pavilion. The quiet pavilion provides space for mourning and reflection in the still-active surrounding cemetery where many villagers have buried loved ones.

The main program is housed in the church itself, a large multipurpose hall for cultural activities, dinners, exhibitions, etc. The spatial configuration is done with great care and respect for the richly decorated interior. Textile interventions make the space modular, both acoustically (the church contains a protected organ) and spatially, and conceal Christian ornaments when a neutral background is required for the planned activity.

The extension supports the main volume in its operation. A diagonally placed wall conceals the necessary sanitary cells and ensures a natural circulation flow from the square to the multipurpose hall and vice versa. Additionally, the building primarily serves as a foyer, providing breathing room for various events at this location or allowing for individual smaller activities. The foyer is glazed, showcasing its users and inviting villagers to participate in the activities.

Location: Zeveren, BE | Program: Reconversion of church to village to community centre | Year: 2024 | Client: City of Deinze | Status: Competition proposal | Budget: €1.840.000 | Size: 380m² | Collaboration: Fallow + Studio Lauka | Landscape: Fallow | Structure: Studie 10 | Climate: Studie 10 | Acoustics: Daidalos-Peutz | People: Matthias Salaets, Michaël Stas, Carmen Van Maercke, Stijn Jalon, Frédéric Kancel