Isa Bagadov
05 / Eeklo, Belgium
10 Social Houses Cocquytstraat
2026Ten proposed social homes at the edge of Eeklo’s Hartwijk district connect the neighbourhood with the adjacent park through a sequence of collective and private outdoor spaces.
- Location
- Eeklo, Belgium
- Programme
- Execution of 10 new social houses
- Status
- Design phase
- Collaboration
- In collaboration with Desert office, Aboubakar Islamov, Ibragim Movtaev and Matthieu Spicher
Street and park
The competition proposal prioritises open space over a larger built footprint. Two compact building volumes frame interconnected green spaces. At the corner where they meet, the buildings are set back to create an open public living space along Cocquytstraat.
In a narrow street, this space introduces light, openness and opportunities for informal encounters between residents and neighbours. Brick walls with seating and planting frame the space and mark a gateway to the park, contributing to both the street and the wider neighbourhood.
Courtyard and gardens
A semi-public courtyard sits behind the buildings. Winding paths, native planting and communal amenities encourage interaction while maintaining a distinction between collective and private areas. Private gardens connect directly to the courtyard, making a gradual transition from dwelling to landscape.
Landscape
The landscape strategy draws on Eeklo’s ecological identity and the surrounding sandy landscapes. Native trees, naturalistic planting and permeable surfaces are intended to support biodiversity, improve water infiltration and establish a green framework that can evolve over time.
Housing, landscape and public space are brought together as a piece of neighbourhood where living, meeting and nature form part of everyday life.