Jolly Housing

Programme

Social and reintegration housing, common room and shared garden

172 Rue Jolly in Brussels plays its cards close to its chest. Behind its simple, uniform façade in metal siding above the blue-green tiles of the ground floor, it is difficult to guess the care taken in designing the living spaces of this social apartment building. Apart from the simple grassed inner courtyard framed by old walls with neighbouring premises, it is the design of this building – conceived for residents going through the process of social integration – that deserves attention. Specifically, there is a large common space on the ground floor which already provides opportunities for socialisation for some residents who have no other attachment to Brussels than their housing. This is also where training sessions take place. The effect of this common room is enhanced by the access to the building, through a covered passageway linking the street and the inner courtyard. This open corridor runs alongside the common room, separated by a bay window. This opening brings the social connection of a street into the heart of the building. In a complete break with the current practice of trying to reduce crossings in entrance halls, the building offers a layout that evokes the social conditions of the first half of the 20th century, when building courtyards were places of activity and exchange. Thus, as well as children being able to play unsupervised in the courtyard, residents get a chance to exchange a few words on their way to and from home. The same incentive to socialise prevails on the upper floors – some flats are organized on a cooperative basis, with private and shared spaces. The simple construction of the building, lined on the inside with spruce, betrays its timber structure and reminds us that public housing can be inexpensive but still extremely high quality in the setting it offers its residents.

Christophe Catsaros