Social Housing Maarschalk Montgomery

The Social Housing Maarschalk Montgomery project by Areal Architecten is a competition entry for Woonhaven Antwerpen, proposing the replacement of the existing housing block at the Maarschalk Montgomeryplein in Borgerhout. The design reinterprets the large-scale modernist complex as an urban ensemble on a human scale, restoring the balance between architecture, housing quality, and collectivity. The competition proposal comprises 34 social dwellings organized around three vertical circulation cores, with through-apartments and corner units oriented toward both the square and the collective garden. The brick architecture in nuanced red tones anchors the project within its urban fabric, while bay windows, entrances, and terraces refine its scale and presence. A shared inner garden forms the green heart of the block, promoting social interaction and ecological value. Within a rational and budget-conscious structure, the project merges sustainability with urban expression, translating the ambition of social housing into a layered, dignified architectural identity.