Every Flemish village has its Pastorie. This pastor's house (presbytery or vicarage) is close to the school and in direct connection with the church. With its distinct architectural appearance, the Pastorie is the heart of the community. 

Nowadays, few villages still have a pastor who watches over its church and souls. Many of the ‘pastories’ remain unoccupied and without purpose, often prone to vandalism.

In 2020, the municipality of Helchteren had decided to put the pastorie up for sale. They were hoping for a grand café or a nice restaurant that would breathe new life into the site but there was no real interest in the project.

And then a group of young enthusiasts – all friends and former members of a local youth organization – came up with a novel idea: why not open up the house  to the community again? Making it a meeting place, a green oasis for everyone? With Belgium’s busiest road splitting the village in two, there was no community life left, so the pastorie could be an opportunity to re-create a heart …

The first activity of this spontaneous group of people - the Friends of the Pastorie - was a night walk and a gathering at the pastorie as a makeshift outdoor movie location. It was a great success.

Much has happened since then... To prevent the building from further delapidation, the municipality initiated an architectural competition for the renovation of the pastorie and the extension with a music room for the local brass band. 

The construction works will start in February 2025, following the winning design by De Gouden Liniaal and Magma Architects. Due to budget constraints, professional contractors will only handle the structural work, the building’s exterior, and the extension. The interior finishes and garden enhancements will remain the responsibility of the Friends of the Pastorie and their dedicated volunteers.

Meanwhile the students of the Postgraduate Certificate 2023I24 edition have kickstarted the functioning of the pastorie as a place for the community to meet, with their garden pavilion and earthen oven, carefully designed and built with the Friends, brass band and neighbours. 

The connection with the community grew so strong and meaningful that we decided to continue this fruitful collaboration. In the 25I26 edition, we will support them in establishing a sustainable model for the Pastorie as an open house, while designing and realizing complementary spatial interventions. These efforts can include reorganizing the attic, creating flexible furniture, developing a library room, and designing a vegetable garden and outdoor workspace—just a few of the many opportunities to make a lasting impact.

The Pastorie initiative runs parallel to the North-South complex project, an infrastructure effort aimed at reimagining one of Belgium’s busiest roads. Every day, approximately 45,000 vehicles pass through Helchteren between Eindhoven (in the Netherlands) and Hasselt, with half of them belonging to commuters traveling between the two cities.

As part of the project, two tunnels will be constructed to handle the majority of car and truck traffic, leaving the surface roads dedicated to local mobility. This transformation is a unic opportunity to restore a human scale to the area, featuring comfortable bike lanes, tree-lined streets, and efficient public transportation.

However, the North-South project also evokes mixed emotions. Around 145 buildings, including private homes and commercial spaces, will need to be demolished. For many residents—some of whom have lived in these homes for generations—this transition is profoundly challenging.

Understanding the sensitivity of the situation, students from the 2023–2024 Postgraduate Certificate program carefully proposed a novel idea: repurposing materials from the buildings slated for demolition for community projects. Supported by the Friends of the Pastorie, the municipality, and inspired by the students’ enthusiasm, many homeowners responded positively to the initiative.

Since then, Hasselt University, the Faculty of Architecture and Arts, the municipality, and the Werkvennootschap (the organization managing the complex project) have been exploring the legal and logistical aspects of salvaging materials from these structures. The scale of this endeavor is unprecedented in Belgium and far beyond.

Looking ahead, the 2025I26 Postgraduate Certificate program plans to experiment and build using these reclaimed materials, turning this innovative idea into tangible results.