'Vlaams hof'
Rudy J. Luijters 2017
Inner garden of a new retirement home conceived by Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architects
In collaboration with Atelier Arne Deruyter
Commissioner: OCMW Municipality of Machelen
A vegetable garden is conceived in the patio of the newly constructed ‘Parkhof’, a retirement home in Machelen, near Brussels. The formal structure of this inner garden is based on the medieval hortus conclusus-typology, more specifically the hortus catalogi.
As in a retirement home one benefits of collective advantages – no individual housing anymore – Luijters tried to regain a garden for all. The concept of use is based on recognition (salutary for the inhabitants, patients suffering from dementia); ‘Flemish Garden’ is an interpretation of the very common people’s garden.
The fruit and vegetable squares form a vivid, always evolving surface throughout the four seasons. The garden offers a variety of strong sensory experiences, smell, touch and sound (of birds and insects) just as important as the visual aspects.