When reuse becomes part of the renovation process

When I begin a renovation project, several objectives immediately present themselves. These include, in no particular order, highlighting the style of the client, respecting the project’s deadline, achieving the desired energy performance rating, staying within budget, managing the documentation for grants, and establishing effective communication among all partners.

Recently, a new objective has been added to some of my projects: reuse. The decision to incorporate reuse must be established from the outset, as it deeply influences the approach to renovation. Demolition must be carried out carefully, cataloging the dismantled elements. Space must be provided for storage, and determination is required to find the ideal place for each element. Reuse takes time, which can sometimes disrupt the balance between the initial objectives.

This was the case in the renovation of a magnificent Maison de Maître in Schaerbeek, where the goal was to divide the generous space into three housing units, with a total of seven bedrooms and five shower rooms. This renovation was marked by the spirit of recovery and reuse, particularly for the floors, doors, woodwork, moldings, and stairs.

The client was heavily involved in finding solutions to specific challenges, such as seeking buyers for certain dismantled elements of quality that could not be reused on site, or hunting for items at second-hand markets that could complement the overall design.

Reuse requires particular attention to harmoniously blend the reused elements with the new materials needed. Harmony is found in the dialogue between the old fireplace and the new block concealing the stairs, or between the patterns on the kitchen backsplash and the veins of the genuine marble in the fireplace. The leitmotif running through the five bathrooms, whose finishes echo the old cement tiles of the Belle Époque to which the house belongs, reinforces this harmonious spirit.

Reuse did not prove to be an obstacle but rather a major ingredient in the continuous search for harmony among all the elements of the project.

Take a look at our project: 2023 DH Maison de Maître renovation