Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 12, 2026 – The former St. Gummarus Church in Mechelen has been repurposed as a multifunctionele ontmoetingsplek, known as the Gummzaal, for the Gumm cohousing project housing 25 families. This initiative on the Kerkhoflei site includes shared spaces open to local residents for activities like yoga, film evenings, and markets. The project emphasises ecological enhancements, community collaboration, and heritage reconversion of the 1926 Art Deco complex.
The Gumm cohousing project occupies a 0.48-hectare site previously comprising the deconsecrated St. Gummarus Church, adjacent school buildings from 1926, a pastorij, and an old speelplaats. Developed by vzw Samenwonen Mechelen and the Burgerlijke Maatschap GUMMAAR, it provides homes for 24 permanent units plus temporary accommodation in the former pastorij, accommodating singles, couples, and families with children. Most residences are occupied, with the final residents moving in during summer 2026.
Project Origins and Site Acquisition
The initiative began around 2018 when a cohousing group formed, supported by the Diocese of Mechelen-Brussels, owner of the site listed in the inventory of immovable heritage. The bisdom prioritised social herbestemming over quick sale, allowing the group time to develop plans. A positive haalbaarheidstudie by DAMarchitecten led to the VME Gummarushof purchasing the site.
Construction started in March 2020, with DENC-STUDIO handling architecture and sustainability. The project reconverted school classrooms into dwellings, preserving foundations, walls, and tiles to minimise new materials. It achieved a density of approximately 50 dwellings per hectare.
Awards include first laureate in the 2024 Belgian Timber Construction Awards for Optopping category and 2023 nominations for Belgian Building Awards in Sustainability and Publieksprijs.
Church Repurposing into Gummzaal
The St. Gummarus Church, designed by architects J. Huygh and S. Van Craen with Art Deco features, now serves as the Gummzaal, a polyvalent space for cohousing residents and external users. Renovations include a new floor with vloerverwarming for klimaatneutraal heating, improved akoestiek via spuitpleister, and infrastructure upgrades.
Catholic heritage observers have highlighted similar restoration efforts in deconsecrated churches to preserve architectural value amid adaptive reuse. Mason-Dixon Latin Mass Society @MDLatinMass said in X post, “It was a beautiful restoration by a company called Evergreene. Especially given what it once was versus what it became, it was a huge undertaking.”
It was a beautiful restoration by a company called Evergreene. Especially given what it once was versus what it became, it was a huge undertaking. https://t.co/BOLXTvOBvO pic.twitter.com/YyeUslRBuZ
— Mason-Dixon Latin Mass Society (@MDLatinMass) January 12, 2026
Residents can use it for private events or rent it to neighbourhood organisations for yoga lessons, filmavonden, tentoonstellingen, trainingen, or rommelmarkten. Crowdfunding in 2021 raised funds specifically for the Gummzaal. Works on the Gummzaal started recently, as noted in project updates. The former toneelzaal was split and opgetopt to expand usable space.
Shared Facilities and Community House
The site features a gemeenschapshuis in the former Oud Nonnetjeshuis, offering spaces for communal meals, hobbykamers, a muziekruimte, bibliotheek, and speelkamer. An atelier for klussen, a wasbar with shared machines and a bar for socialising, and common areas promote delen as duurzaamheid.
A CVBA structure allows coöperanten to manage as syndicus, with rental income from spaces covering costs. These facilities foster interaction among the diverse 25 households of jong and oud, alleenstaanden, koppels, and gezinnen.
Ecological Transformations and Gummtuin
The old speelkoer of 2500 m² became the gummtuin, a groene oase with fietsenstalling, zwemvijver, moestuin, speelruimte, and verpozingsplekken. Proeftuinen ontharding subsidie of €100,000 supported removal of betondallen and sanitair blok, reducing footprint.
Features enhance biodiversiteit, waterinfiltratie via wadi’s (18 m³), and lucht quality, with landschappelijke glooiingen. Collaborations with Departement Omgeving Vlaanderen, Scouts Sint-Gummarus, Gidsen OLV, Stad Mechelen, Kind & Samenleving, Vlaamse Dienst Speelpleinwerk, and Speelmakers include kerkuil kast, zwaluwnesten, and vleermuisverblijf.
Energy systems comprise BEN-woningen with warmtepompen, balansventilatie, geothermisch boorveld, and zonnepanelen. The project participated in Paraat voor het Klimaat in 2020.
Recent Developments and Community Integration
First residents moved in February 2022, describing it as choosing one’s family. An openingsfeest in March 2023 showcased facilities. In March 2022, the tuin transformation was highlighted as a voortrekkersrol.
Public commentary reflects concerns over trends in repurposing deconsecrated churches amid declining congregations. Champange_Charlie @ChampangeChuck said in X post,
“What’s sad is that if you asked church members from Mainline churches like this from 30-50 years ago what they thought of the current congregants, they would be horrified. Often such beautiful buildings, shame they’re going to be condominiums or bars sooner than you’d think.”
What’s sad is that if you asked church members from Mainline churches like this from 30-50 years ago what they thought of the current congregants, they would be horrified. Often such beautiful buildings, shame they’re going to be condominiums or bars sooner than you’d think.
— Champange_Charlie (@ChampangeChuck) January 12, 2026
Current efforts focus on Gummzaal completion and tuin uitvoeringsplannen. The project connects beyond its boundaries, organising buurtactiviteiten to strengthen buurtleven. VRT NWS reported on January 12, 2026, the church’s role in cohousing and klimaat initiatives.
