Bellefleur is a pioneering cooperative cohousing project in Ghent, Belgium, located at Bellefleurstraat 24. Developed by the housing cooperative wooncoop, it revitalized four historic buildings originally constructed in 1912 by city architect Charles Van Rysselberghe as early examples of social housing. These structures had stood vacant for years before wooncoop acquired them in 2022 through two successful capital calls from Ghent residents, raising over €1 million each time to fund the transformation without major permits or excessive costs.
The project was designed by Havana architectuur, whose innovative approach earned Bellefleur the prestigious Architectuurprijs Gent in 2024. The jury praised its intelligent reuse of existing structures, emphasis on sustainability, and role in preserving affordable housing amid rising urban costs. Havana added a new central staircase in each building, connecting all 24 one- or two-bedroom apartments—each with private kitchen, bathroom, and living space—to shared amenities including a communal garden, laundry room, guest room, and meeting areas. This minimal intervention fostered community interaction while optimizing space, turning individual units into a cohesive cohousing model.
Sustainability upgrades slashed energy use by 80 percent through insulation, heat pumps, efficient ventilation, and rainwater harvesting, cutting annual CO2 emissions by 23 tons. One apartment serves as solidarity housing for lower-income residents, funded collectively, addressing social isolation, housing insecurity, and inefficient buildings. Collaboration with Gent Samen Solidair and a building team ensured quick delivery by June 2024. Bellefleur exemplifies democratic ownership, resident control, and scalable cooperative living, with wooncoop now managing 132 homes across 13 projects and 102 more in development.