’t Bulscampvelt

’t Bulscampvelt brings a polyvalent hall, youth rooms and out-of-school childcare together in the centre of Hertsberge, spatially connected to the church as a symbolic act of social sustainability. The compact building takes its scale and rhythm from the neighbouring neo-Gothic Sint-Jan-Evangelist church and is organised in parallel “naves” that open to the Wingensestraat and the playfield. A transparent entrance zone stitches the programme into the village life, while simple, adaptable construction principles support long-term change.

A Civic House in the Shadow of the Church

’t Bulscampvelt is conceived as a new public anchor for Hertsberge: a polyvalent hall, youth facilities and out-of-school childcare brought together in one compact building. The project strengthens everyday community life and frames a shared place for residents, local associations and children from the nearby school.

Learning from the Church

The form and presence of the proposal are derived from the neighbouring neo-Gothic Sint-Jan-Evangelist church. Rather than competing with this landmark, the new building adopts its consolidated scale and translates it into a contemporary public programme. The design intent is to compact the programme “under one roof”, aligning it with the church and continuing its spatial rhythm. The result is a respectful neighbour—modest in appearance, yet clearly legible as a public building.

Independent Parts, Shared Heart

The building is structured as a sequence of parallel bays of different sizes, matching the needs of the polyvalent hall, youth rooms and childcare. This variation gives the volume a natural expression of its interior use. The organisation opens to the Wingensestraat on one side and to the playfield along the Kerkplein on the other, allowing the building to participate in village life on both fronts.

Between the hall and the childcare/youth functions, a new social threshold is formed towards the space between the presbytery and the building. Here, a lighter and more transparent roof zone marks an inviting entrance. The hall can open parts of its glazed façade towards the green playfield in summer, extending activities outdoors and making the building’s life visible in the evenings.

Rhythm, Robustness, Adaptability

Architecturally, the project continues the church’s rhythm in a contemporary way: clear bays, honest proportions and a legible roof structure. The youth rooms benefit from the roof volume, allowing the introduction of a mezzanine to split activities when needed. The childcare is shaped as a domestic archetype—an interior that feels familiar and scaled to children.

The overall framework is conceived to remain robust and adaptable, supporting reconfiguration and possible extension without undermining the clarity of the whole.

A Playfield as Public Partner

The building’s public character is amplified through its relationship with the playfield and the village edges. By opening towards the Kerkplein, the project creates an interface between interior activities and an outdoor social landscape—an everyday stage for gathering, play and events.

Low-tech Circular Principles

The sustainability ambition is rooted in change-ready building for a circular economy: demountability, flexibility and long life. The project favours simple, maintainable solutions and a clear separation between structure, services and infill to support future adaptation. Material choices prioritise robustness, purity and the potential for reuse—including the intention to recover elements from existing buildings where possible, so that part of the old “DNA” can continue in the new.