Interview with a154: on context, quality and living in Menlo Park
Today we speak with architects Eline Geurts and Charlotte Ballière from a154 architecten.
They explain how Menlo Park in Sint-Amandsberg evolved — from a landlocked horse meadow to an open, vibrant neighbourhood — and how quality, context and collaboration shaped the entire journey.
Could you briefly introduce yourselves?
Charlotte Ballière: I am a managing partner at a154 architecten. Our office brings together a multidisciplinary team — architects, engineers, BIM specialists and draftspeople — united by a deliberate, context-driven approach.
We believe every project is defined by its environment. The ‘A’ in a154 stands for alternative, attentive, another way of thinking: we design from A to Z with an open mind and with respect for every partner. Because building is never a solitary act.
Eline Geurts: I’ve been here since 2016, and Menlo Park was one of my first projects. I followed it from the early studies all the way through execution and handover. So I witnessed the entire process — from first sketch to today’s residents moving in.
How did a154 connect with Fenixco, and what intrigued you about this site?
Charlotte: The site had been in Fenixco’s portfolio for a while. It had enormous potential, along with several urban and legal complexities. Thanks to our integrated study method and constructive dialogue with the city, collaboration started quickly.
A shared ambition emerged almost immediately: how can we transform this closed-off plot — once a horse meadow — into a place that opens itself to the neighbourhood?
The project began with the challenge of integrating this enclosed green space. How did you make it accessible?
Eline: That required a lot of coordination with the city of Ghent and the fire brigade. The original plans no longer met modern standards. We developed a new zoning strategy with the pedestrian connection as the central element.
We didn’t want to introduce a conventional street, but a shared residential zone — a woonerf — that would remain the green spine of the neighbourhood. It became a public place where pedestrians, cyclists and residents meet, with green swales and landscaping tying everything together.
In essence, the neighbourhood gained access to a piece of nature that had long been private.
With the city, you proposed a mix of housing types. Why was this so important?
Eline: The city encourages it, but conceptually it was also the right choice. By combining apartments, houses and link-homes, you attract very different profiles.
And sales confirmed this: many older residents from the area wanted to stay close to home, but move into a comfortable apartment. At the same time, young families were drawn to the ground-floor houses with gardens. This creates a natural social dynamic.
Charlotte:It’s a kind of reciprocity: families bring life and energy, older residents bring calm and continuity. You create a neighbourhood where people really know one another.
From the start, Fenixco emphasised quality. How did you translate that architecturally?
Eline:Fenixco wanted more than a standard subdivision — they wanted a coherent ensemble with real identity. We worked conceptually: each home unit needed its own character within a clear overall structure.
We selected three main façade materials — timber, brick and slate — separated by white concrete or render lines. The roofs also feature white slates, giving the project a serene continuity.
In the apartment buildings, each floor has a different finish, allowing every dwelling to read as an individual house. For the houses, we varied the brick bonds and mortar colours. The result is a lively yet harmonious streetscape.
What looks simple was technically very complex. How did you manage this?
Eline:It was indeed more complex than it appears. Brick, timber and slate each require different wall-build-ups.
Brick is tied directly to the structural wall, while timber and slate need substructures, ventilation layers and a different insulation build-up. This meant several contractors had to work simultaneously, with millimetre precision, so that all white lines aligned perfectly across façades.
For the houses, the interplay of hidden white roof planes, parapets and rendered sections made it even more challenging.
This complexity is part of the beauty: what seems straightforward today is actually the outcome of hundreds of small, deliberate decisions.
How did you approach the relationship between interior and exterior?
Eline: It was essential that residents truly experience the outdoor spaces.
Many apartments have more than two façades — rare in an urban setting — and are wrapped with terraces, providing daylight and views on all sides.
The houses received small front gardens as soft transitions to the shared space — not large, but enough for a bench or planter. It creates a gentle buffer between private and public realms.
Charlotte:These choices encourage interaction. When someone sits outside with a coffee, you naturally say hello. The shared space becomes a place where life happens.
How did the collaboration unfold during construction?
Eline:There was intense coordination, but the collaboration with Fenixco was smooth. We shared a commitment to quality, even when that meant taking more time.
Of course, there were technical challenges and delays — that’s construction — but open communication kept everything aligned.
Charlotte: What stood out was the mutual respect between developer, architects and contractors. Dialogue continued even when issues were difficult.
And during handover, independent experts complimented the quality — a level they rarely encountered. That recognition speaks to everyone’s dedication.
You’ve said: ‘Nothing is sustainable about a project that gets demolished after twenty years.’ How does Menlo Park remain future-proof?
Eline: Sustainability begins with design, not with technology. We prioritise daylight, rational structures and adaptable layouts.
For example, the landing areas in the houses can easily be transformed into an extra room. These invisible decisions enable homes to evolve.
Charlotte:The context also matters. Menlo Park is within walking distance of shops, schools and public transport. It’s designed for cyclists and pedestrians, with car access limited to residents.
Technically, we integrated sustainable systems: rainwater management through swales, geothermal heating in the apartments, heat pumps in the houses.
And something often overlooked: technical rooms with enough space. Proper installation placement greatly improves future performance and comfort.
Archaeological research unearthed remains from the Roman period. How did that affect the project?
Eline:It was quite a discovery — two wells containing remarkably preserved wood.
It feels symbolic: on the same spot where people gathered water centuries ago, families now live again. Building on history adds meaning to the project.
What insights do you take with you from this process?
Charlotte:For me, communication is the foundation of quality. By staying open and supporting each other, you can elevate complex projects far beyond the ordinary — with the team, authorities and residents alike.
Eline:It wasn’t a simple site, but we kept looking for solutions. That persistence — refining until everything fits — makes the difference between a good project and a truly strong one.
It’s rewarding to see the result so closely match what we envisioned.
If you had to summarise your architecture in one word?
Eline Geurts: Connectedness.
Charlotte Ballière: Yes — connectedness with context, with people, and with the future. That is what we strive for.
Closing reflection
Menlo Park illustrates how vision, collaboration and attention to detail can shape a long-lasting living environment. Together with a154 architecten, we created a project where architecture forms not only buildings, but also community.
With the full delivery now completed, one final home is still available — a unique opportunity for anyone wishing to live in this serene, green enclave.
Would you like more information or to schedule a visit? Feel free to contact us:
