CASA

CASA in Oostduinkerke is conceived as a renewed scouting house for a growing youth movement. The project responds to changing needs in use, sustainability and spatial quality, while reinforcing the role of the scout building as a social anchor within its neighbourhood.

Rather than treating the building as a standalone object, the design approaches it as part of a wider landscape of movement, play and encounter. CASA becomes an open house where indoor and outdoor life are closely connected, and where the everyday activities of the scouts can unfold with generosity and freedom.

The design begins by questioning the assumption of complete replacement. Instead of erasing the existing condition, the project recognises the value of the current structure along Tulpenlaan and builds upon it. The central architectural idea is clear: reuse the existing footprint, introduce vertical stacking, and free as much ground as possible for landscape and play.

This approach limits physical impact on the site, aligns the building with the surrounding residential scale, and reinforces the green inner area as the main collective space. The volume is read as a cluster of house-like elements, modest in height and footprint, yet clearly identifiable as a civic place for young people.

The programme is organised through three principles: spatial freedom, exchangeability and smart stacking. The existing structural grid allows large, adaptable floor fields, making it possible to divide or combine rooms over time. Shared spaces and polyvalent use increase the capacity of the building without increasing its footprint.

The larger common hall can be subdivided, allowing simultaneous use by different age groups. Functions that are most easily shared are placed on the upper level, while the ground floor is opened up to create a generous covered outdoor area and a welcoming threshold towards the site. This sheltered space extends daily use beyond the enclosed rooms and supports scouting activities even in less favourable weather.

The project is based on the reuse of the existing industrial prefabricated concrete skeleton. Its regular grid offers a robust and adaptable framework, suited to an Open Building approach in which structure, services and interior fit-out remain sufficiently independent.

By adding a modest upper layer rather than replacing the entire building, the project reduces material use and preserves economic realism. The architecture remains legible from the outside: a compact building composed under distinct roof forms, each part expressing its relation to the landscape and its internal use.

Landscape is central to the project. By keeping the footprint compact, the design maximises open ground and allows the site to become a varied terrain for play, exploration and ecological value. Instead of a monotonous open field, the proposal introduces biodiversity through trees, shade, permeable surfaces and planted zones.

These elements create microclimates that improve comfort, support local fauna and offer richer experiences for children. The building is directly linked to this landscape through covered outdoor space, open-air walkways and direct connections between the upper floor and the terrain.