Merkem Community Centre / Rapp+Rapp

Merkem is a small village in West Flanders, counting 2,300 inhabitants. After having been completely destroyed in the First World War it was reconstructed in the 1920s in a typical local building style, being a characteristic example of post-war reconstruction architecture. The village is situated along two main roads joining in a T-junction. The commission granted to Rapp+Rapp consisted of two parts: the redesign of public space along the main streets in the village and the construction of a new community centre.