VK developed a master plan for the Sint-Jan psychiatric centre, which has now almost reached the final stage. Spread over several years, the entire campus was thoroughly redesigned and rebuilt according to designs by VK.

The psychiatric nursing home is the capstone of that architectural and therapeutic innovation process. The concept tries to translate the therapeutic and organisational goals as clearly and directly as possible. It takes into account organisational efficiency and quick access, and thus avoids the fragmentation of the scarcity of human capital.

The home, currently housed on the campus, will be moved to the urban fabric outside of the campus. It will consist of small groups, clustered into “homes” for up to a maximum of 10 residents. The location in the public space is determined by the needs of the residents. The backbone of the project is a street containing the community areas, support services and the residences. The whole functions as a residential area with supplemental general and technical support services: the residents are housed within an overall care structure, but can increase their independence according to their own abilities.

The architecture enhances this approach by focusing on the spatial and experiential qualities of the indoor and outdoor spaces.