Our Lourdeshof

Our Lourdeshof is a compact residential development in Eindhoven that carefully positions new housing within a historically layered urban context. The project consists of 20 energy neutral wdwellings arranged around a shared, green and car-free courtyard, conceived as a space for play, encounter and biodiversity.

Set along the Vlokhovenseweg, on the site of a former school, the plan explicitly engages with the existing ensemble of church, school, presbytery and surrounding 1930s housing. Rather than introducing a contrasting urban model, the design builds on the spatial logic of the former “kerkdorp”: a recognisable cluster of buildings structured along a historic route. The restoration and reuse of the former school building, combined with new dwellings that align with the existing street and sit in a second line around the courtyard, reinforce this layered composition.

Architecturally, the project adopts a restrained, context-driven language—brick facades, pitched roofs and a two-layer typology—while incorporating contemporary detailing. This ensures that the new intervention remains subordinate to the historic ensemble, in line with the ambition that new development should not disturb the identity of the “kerkdorp in de stad”.

At the same time, Ons Lourdeshof introduces a forward-looking layer through its strong focus on sustainability and nature-inclusivity: climate-adaptive landscaping, water buffering, and integrated habitats for birds and bats contribute to a resilient and biodiverse living environment.