On the site of a historic double-square farmstead in the rolling countryside around Brussels, the client wanted to create a space for small-scale cultivation, reminiscent of historical farming practices. In addition to serving as a productive and functional area, this orchard and kitchen garden also act as a welcoming space for visitors and passers-by, highlighting local agricultural production and it’s potential futures.

We proposed planting plum trees in the new orchard to the south of the farm, extending toward the old freestanding bakery. This establishes a clear and functional connection to the rest of the farm. Interspersed between the fruit trees, we plan a patchwork of rectangular vegetable beds, aligned with the natural slope of the terrain.

Low masonry walls define the beds, providing seating along their lower side overlooking the landscape. The planting of the vegetable beds is flexible, but aimed at a rational crop rotation, with different plant families alternating each year.

Along the road, a high masonry wall offers protection against the prevailing southwest winds. Against this wall, we have build two greenhouses, intended for pre-cultivation and more temperature-sensitive crops. These greenhouses come to serve as the logistical core of the vegetable garden, while blending within the overall aspect of this historic farm.