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Gaudium Elderly Care Center / plusoffice Architects
Text description provided by the architect. In the village of Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle, in the heart of the Belgian Pajottenland, there is a former castle estate, “De Verlosser”, which is now an elderly care center. The park area is a protected heritage site and includes, in addition to the manor house, a carriage house, a farm, a vicarage and more. In order to be able to continue to provide high-quality care for the elderly in the future, PLUSOFFICE has developed a master plan that strengthens the classification of the castle and park and sets out guidelines for the further expansion of the 150-bed residential care center.
As part of this masterplan, PLUSOFFICE renovated the “Gaudium”. This former carriage house was used as a starter residence. The historic facade has been restored, outbuildings have been replaced and the design is based on a nearly energy-neutral technical concept. The repurposed home will accommodate nine residents, each of whom will have a fully equipped care room and share special living areas.
The scheme was originally designed as a living community for the sisters, including their family chapel, and then, without major alterations, as a small residential care home. Direct links between the internal residential care community and the castle park and kitchen gardens mean that outdoor spaces can also be actively used as part of the care offering.
PLUSOFFICE’s intervention re-evaluated the original main volume, updated its roof shape and placed a “twin sister” as an extension next to the original building. The new roof form blends seamlessly with the historic building and is made from clay roof tiles that harmonize with the existing brick facade. The annex replicates this use of material and expands it through modern window openings. The balusters in front of these windows feature symbolic details inspired by the fine wood carvings of the main building.
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