On the High Park site
Louise Deprins, architectural engineer at DDS+ since 2017, talks with us about the High Park construction site, which she is monitoring with Mariella Selleslagh.
Passionate about architecture, Louise monitors her construction sites with attention to detail but above all with her usual sens of humor. She likes the concrete aspect of this phase, the fact of transcribing a conceptual idea into reality and seeing it come to fruition. "It's very rewarding to actively participate in the realization of buildings and to see the final result. All this through refining technical details, studying special cases, checking production plans, ..."
"What construction site are you currently monitoring for DDS+?"
I am monitoring the High Park construction site, a new construction of 101 homes on a vacant lot located between the municipalities of Molenbeek Saint-Jean and Berchem Saint-Agathe. The construction is being carried out in two phases, corresponding to the two buildings that are being built on either side of a new central road. The latter descends towards a protected green zone to which the residents have access via paths linking the neighboring streets. The new volumes connect to the existing semi-detached buildings, creating a termination of the urban fabric and an opening to the green zone. The apartments range in size from 60 to 130 m2 and offer a high quality of life in a green environment. The type of housing varies from studios to 4-bedroom duplexes, as well as penthouses and an apartment adapted for disabled people. Each apartment has a balcony, a generous terrace, or a garden. The common thread in terms of materiality for this project is the neutral / nude colors. There will be no gray or black building elements. Brown, beige, golden tones, ... as well as rough and irregular textures are honored through materials and supplies carefully selected during the construction.
"What did you like about the High Park construction site?"
The exchange with the other participants; project owner, design offices, contractor, subcontractors, ...There is a very positive team dynamic with the will to propose a sustainable execution - both constructively and economically - and to solve problems together in respect of the project concept. I also like the materiality of the project. The trend defined in the PU of nude tones offers a beautiful palette of choices finalized during the construction.
"Do you have a funny story about this construction site to tell us?"
As I was leaving the construction site, I realized that a rebar delivery truck and a concrete mixer were completely blocking the way. My tiny car was trapped! After offering to move it with the crane (oops), the workers did some ingenious maneuvers with the two heavy trucks so that I could leave.
