| Address: | rue Fin |
| 1080 - Brussels | |
| Belgium | |
| Contact person: | Geert De Pauw |
| Email: | geert.depauw@bonnevie40.be |
| Website: | espoirmolenbeek.blogspot.com |
| Date of creation: | september 2010 |
| Type of project: | construction |
| Legal form: |
L'Espoir is a project in which 14 low-income families, living in poor housing conditions, became owner of a sustainable, passive house. From the start of the project, they were closely involved in the realization of it. Community center Bonnevie took the initiative in 2004, after they realized that, due to the housing crisis, it was no longer possible to find decent and affordable housing for large families. Bonnevie established a partnership with the Fonds du Logement, CIRE and 14 families in housing need. From the start, great importance was attached to the participation of these families in the realization of the project. This innovative approach led to a number of groundbreaking solutions.
For example, l’Espoir will be the first social passive building in Belgium. Also in other areas, sustainable options were chosen. During the whole process, from specification to delivery, the partners sought for innovative solutions. Different elements of this the project, which was completed in June 2010, grew into an example for others. The building was elected a model building by the Ministry of Environment, and could finally count on a lot of attention from various politicians, social organizations and builders, in Brussels and beyond.
Partnership between Bonnevie, CIRE, Fonds du Logement and and a group of 14 families, called L'Espoir.
The families became owners, through social mortgages offered by Fonds du Logement. This covered 75% of the construction costs. The rest was covered through grants of the Brussels Regional gouvernement (sustainable buildings subsidies) and the Belgian Federal gouvernement (Big Cities Policy).
From the start, the future residents were involved in all major decisions. They played an important role in the achievement of the project.
Passive building, green roof, solar, wooden construction, sustainable garden,...
At the start of the project most of the families were unemployed, some were doing badly payed jobs. The aim was to build a house that would be affordable for all of them, and we succeeded.
