01 · Challenge
Garage that had been empty for years
The owners of a post-war corner house in Breda had a detached garage that had not been used for a car for years. They wanted to convert the space into a hobby room with a workspace. Although the garage already had a foundation and roof, the facade had to be fully adapted for a residential use designation: insulation, ventilation, daylight access and a new front door all had to be incorporated. Furthermore, the municipality of Breda required a building permit because of the facade alteration at the front.
02 · Our approach
Functional design with ample natural light
We designed a new facade layout with a large glazed panel on the garden side for adequate daylight and a neat access door on the street side matching the house in material and colour. The structure of the existing walls proved sufficient; we added a new steel beam to close off the garage door opening. The complete permit package was submitted to the municipality of Breda. At submission, the drawings had already been aligned with Breda's aesthetic review criteria, so no additional questions were raised.
03 · Result
Usable space without renovation stress
The permit was granted within 6 weeks, without any objections. The contractor received a complete set of working drawings including details for the facade insulation, the new window frame and the roof penetration for ventilation. The renovation went smoothly and within budget. The former garage is now a bright 18 m² space that the owners have fitted out as a combined hobby room and home office. The extra square metres immediately felt like a logical extension of the house.