Project 3 in the Masterplan for the Sint-Norbertushuis Psychiatric Centre in Duffel involves the building of a new treatment and accommodation complex for 150 patients with psychiatric problems. The complex is divided into five care units, each for 30 patients, differentiated into three communities of 10.

The basic principle is the creation of an accommodation environment that clearly encourages recovery. Among other things this means a transformation to 'normalised living' with features of a healing environment with high user quality. The accommodation and treatment areas must be multifunctional so that they can accommodate a wide variety of target groups.

The complex plays a differentiated pivotal function in the process of guiding patients on their way towards psychological recovery, independence and maximum re-integration into society. To achieve this, several intermediate stages (and/or care units) are needed, with varying supervision requirements.

In concrete terms this means a complex of buildings with five care units. Each care unit is linked to the surrounding social fabric, is located in or on the boundary of the site and is easily accessible via a street or square. These buildings should not summon up any associations with the previous concentrated psychiatry which isolated the patients from the outside world.

However, for reasons of safety and privacy, nor should the outside world penetrate too much into the patients' psychological territory. Discretion is required. The division into care units of 30 beds each and their linkage to each other is intended to prevent the dissipation of staff and logistical resources and at the same time make assistance easily and efficiently accessible.