Concrete buildings from the 1970s are often dismissed as gray, dreary structures, to be demolished as soon as possible. Lightweight extensions in wood, steel, and glass frequently amplify this perception further. The design for De Felix—a multi functional cluster, welcoming users of the academy, the library, children going to school, the police, and city administration, executes unequivocally the idea of 'building upon' its concrete past. By viewing the various hues of the concrete, the varied surface treatments and myriadof forms that the prominently featured structure takes on as a rich array of tools, we can reverse the negative perception. Variants of concrete columns, façade panels, and beams are thoughtfully added. The old and new are unmistakably related.  The new elements revisit the rhythm of the existing structures while introducing softer edges and lines. The buildings are topped up and extended, as if the original design is being further developed. A new theater hall, featuring a load-bearing concrete façade, is seamlessly woven into the site.

The concrete is left uncleaned; its weathering is accepted. (Micro)vegetation will draw the project closer to the Gentbrugse Meersen, offering a robust backdrop for the vibrant program within.