The Brouwery is a tribute to the rich history of Rumbeke
At the opening of De Brouwery on the site of the former brewery, the Peene family did not hide their enthusiasm for the project. 'The character of the old building has been preserved in the new construction.
With the passing of Jules Peene in 1972, the curtain fell on the story of the brewery on Roeselarestraat in Rumbeke. Brouwerij De Weeze had its origins in the seventeenth century, but the Peene family only arrived in Rumbeke after the First World War.
The beer Rumbest was one of the gems in their portfolio. After closing down the brewing activities, the brewery and the brewer's house managed to survive for several more decades, even operating as a hospitality establishment for a time, but eventually, the need for a new building became apparent. Restoration was no longer a viable option.
Project developer Verstraete built three apartment buildings on the land once owned by the Peene family. 'On this limited space, we managed to avoid the block effect by dividing it into multiple units and playing with colors. Of course, we also wanted to create a green area.
In total, Residence De Brouwery consists of seventeen apartments and one commercial space, with storage and garages in the basement,' said Francis Verstraete. 'We found it important to incorporate some authentic features of the brewery into this new construction project. This way, we aim to honor the rich history of Rumbeke.
Rich history
The Verstraete company has a special connection to Rumbeke. Their ancestors established the construction firm from Oekene, with Ignace 'Naske' Verstraete leaving the flax business in the early 1800s to become a mason's servant. This marked the beginning of a continuously growing family business that eventually moved to Rumbeke. Nowadays, you can find Verstraete on Zwaaikomstraat. An interesting detail: in 1890, Leonard Verstraete built his first single-family home right next to the Rumbeke brewery, where his descendant Francis Verstraete has now erected Residence Brouwery.
Mrs. Brigitte Peene and her sons Pascal and Yves are thrilled with the result. "It's beautiful, very successful. It's amazing what the developer has been able to achieve on such a small space. It's a worthy alternative to our family's old brewery."
As a tribute to the past, the brewery's copper kettle has found a special place in the courtyard.
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