A series of curtains create fluid boundaries between the spaces of this laboratory for communal living in Belgium, which has opened up a family home to be shared by the surrounding neighbourhood.
Designed by TC Plus, the house called G-LAB was the result of doctoral research into how new "strong places" for societies and communities can be developed. It has been longlisted in the 2019 Dezeen Awards.
While the home is designed to be a private family space when needed, it also has the ability to be shared by the community, with a series of spaces that play with different levels of privacy.

"The G-LAB is an antidote to polarised thinking based on the conviction that we can meet each other in life's nuances," said the architecture studio. "Many different experiences have been created so that everyone can feel at home in one of the spaces ? the house is a hospitable place."

In front of the house itself, facing onto the road, is the Neighbour's Court, a pétanque court that the studio describes as "always accessible, and where everyone can play together no matter their age or language."
Beyond this are two outdoor rooms, wrapped in a green concrete wall and accessed through an eight-metre wide curtain in lieu of a typical front door.

The curtain will often be left open, but can be closed "when in search of a little more security," said the studio.
The uncovered portion of this area is called the Free Space, while the an area a...