OWI // Office for Word and Image

It had become a hobby to scan through the ‘house for sale’ section in the paper on Sunday morning. Not that Al and his wife were looking for a house. They simply liked to view houses. ‘We had a nice apartment, nothing special, but we loved it a great deal, until that particular Sunday afternoon when, as we had done so many times, we drove past one of the houses for sale. It was love at first sight, for both of us. What is more, I was willing to bet my life that it was a design by Morris Lapidus, one of the most important American architects from the fifties, at least in my opinion. When we entered the house, nothing could stop us anymore. We simply had to live here.’
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ALESSI

Turn an ordinary country house into a fairytale palace, that was the assignment which the architect of Stefano Alessi, the youngest offspring of the famous designer family, had to face. And faced successfully, because the zesty architecture combines the frivolous Alessi style and the 18th century romantic style of most houses around the Lago Maggiore. In the interior, classic and modern elements effortlessly blend in as well. In the ample hall, the vase collection of Mendini found a place. The stairways offer a passage to the living room and higher floors. Although the house seems big, it does not have the air of a castle and it is mainly snug to live in.
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ALEX KATZ NY

A huge loft in the very heart of the New York neighbourhood SoHo has been the residence and working place of Alex Katz and his wife Ada for more than twenty-five years. The building was the second one that the city of New York made available for artists. The entire loft is an oasis of light, thanks to the numerous windows, the white walls and the coloured floor.This light ambience is also underlined by the sparse furniture. The furniture is special, but it does not claim any attention. The artwork in the space, huge portraits in oil on canvas, forms the scenery.
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AMERICAN OUTFITTERS	photos Verne
This 70-ies villa, built in ‘New Brutalism’ style has been refurbished and updated by the interior architects Renaud De Poorter and Femke Holdrinet. The result is a contemporary family home with an open character and a strong sensual touch.Two interior architects remodelled the house to contemporary standards and particularly to the personal desires of the inhabitants. See more

ANYPLACE	photos Kempenaers Jan
An old diamond cutting and-polishing shop in Antwerp has been renovated and reorganised. The 2500 square meters area has been divided in 19 housing units. Partly in the old lofts, partly in new built spaces. See more

APARTMENT AS	photos Vercruysse Frederik
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APARTMENT DERUYTER	photos Verne
Uprooted in time and space. That’s the first impression you get when you enter this apartment, even without knowing anything about its occupant. Each room – the studio, the library, including the bedroom -, contains at least one object d’art that refers to concepts like ‘being underway’ or ‘things of the past’. See more

APARTMENT DUINBERGEN

This apartment is divided in two, a private part with the bed and bathrooms and a more public part, with the living room and kitchen. These two zones are separated by a plate-glass door, in which you can see your reflection and the place you are leaving. The white marble represents the changing colour of the sea. It almost goes through the entire apartment, in the guestroom it evolves in a carpet, designed by the architects.
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APARTMENT FH

This apartment is situated in the old city of Ghent, in an old mansion. When the owner wanted to rent the apartment, the proprietor was busy renovating. The owner was fortunate enough to decide with him what the space would look like. For instance, he detest doors, so there are none in the apartment. Very little has been done about architecture here, the decoration is based on the positioning of some very fine furniture.
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APARTMENT MH

In the heart of Brussels, in an old factory with residence, this apartment with loft en art deco allures lies hidden. You enter an oasis of calm. As of 1923, Pyrex, known for its heatproof dishes, produced glass pipettes and Erlenmeyers. In the forties, the company moved to the United States and the large warehouses were then used to store fruit and vegetables until 2002. Then the factory buildings made room for ten lofts. In the former residence of the factory owners, a stately town house at the front of the complex, three more apartments were made. The residents form a heterogeneous mix. Young families, couples and singles, Belgians and foreigners have found their way here.
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APARTMENT PARIS	photos Blee Sarah
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APARTMENT VANDENHENDE

A small apartment on the fifth floor in an old apartment building from 1938 in art deco style has been turned into a multifunctional space with the character of a city loft. With, as an extra, a stunning view over Brussels. Whilst renovating this apartment, the architect looked for the optimal combination of spaciousness and multifunctionality and magically turned the available surface of 85 m² into a comfortable family apartment slash office.
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BARN HOUSE	photos Ocvirk Kus Danica
A house whose design is inspired in the surrounding countryside, and which can be said to represent a continuation and an extension of landscape architecture. The structure of the landscape is the key to the design of the house. See more

BILT	photos Van de Velde Tim
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BLOB

dmvA designed a mobile living and working unit. It has all the practical comforts of a caravan, the difference is that it looks like a sculpture. Closed the blob is like a huge pebble, or even an egg. With its nose opened it has more of a funny looking space-ship. In addition to a door and a skylight at the top of the egg, the entire nose can also be opened. As such, the cocoon becomes some sort of viewing platform. In closed position, it rather resembles a meditation room, withdrawn into itself, in open position it is a garden room, almost like a conservatory acting as frontier between inside and outside.
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BRICKYARD	photos Van de Velde Tim
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CABIN

photos Blee Sarah

Close to the Pyrenees, this fully renovated country house. The residence has been rebuilt with a lot of respect for the old parts and the surrounding. The new parts are fully constructed in ecologically grown wood. Windows and doors were inserted in existing openings and a large window faces East, making the morning sun enter the bedroom via a curved wooden ceiling. A long, highly placed window in the opposite wall offers a view from the bed. The building is fully fitted with green energy, with a solar panel and battery for the electricity and water from the river for the bathroom.
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CALLEBAUT	photos Muller Fien
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CASA DAS CANOAS

In 1953, Oscar Niemeyer built this house for him and his family, just outside Rio. Today the architect lives on the top floor of the oldest apartment on Copacabana and the public can visit his previous home. When we arrive, Casa das Canoas appears to be asleep, only the jungle plants grow rankly. The house is bolstered in green, but the architecture stayed untouched. The curves, signatures of Niemeyer’s work are like a delicate poem in this green setting and the huge glass windows lift the border between interior and exterior.
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CASBAGRAFICA	photos Van de Velde Tim
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CHAPEL HOUSE

A chapel situated in the quaint Flemish village of Bazel has been reconverted into 2 loft-type houses. This building was erected in the second half of the 19th century by Countess Villain XIIII next to the castle of Wissekerke as a place where the children of the village could be educated. The building later became derelict was sold and renovated into a residence. On the ground floor, you can find our offices, with windows overlooking the back garden. In the entrance hall, you still experience the grandeur of the architecture. The owners have kept the space quite open here, which makes the originally monumental and religious character of the building still tangible. The façade and especially the windows are so monumental that the rest of the architecture is logically subordinate to both this image and to the convenience of daily life. Have a look at the loft of Antoon, Natascha and their two children
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CHEZ NOUS

Behind a very small building façade lies an open loft-like space. Bea rebuilt an ancient fisherman’s house into a modern home. The most important part for her in the house is the kitchen block, where she cooks whilst entertaining her friends. Over the past ten years, she has been running a design shop. Her new house is a mix of wonders she has found and sold over the years, ranging from an old Brionvega television to newly made Moroccan rugs.
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CLAUDIO SILVESTRIN	photos Blee Sarah
Silvestrin is a sculptor of space. His architecture is austere, sublime and minimal. In his own penthouse, which he shares with his wife & two children, it is no different. The most important feature in this calm and poetic interior is the way the natural light floods in and influences the mood of the space. See more

CONCRETE HOUSE

photos Dujardin Filip

In spite of the persistent use of concrete and the playful facade composition, this house barely landmarks the neighborhood. This split-level house is organised around a central glazed circulation zone, of which you can see the adjoining rooms. On the inside a similar aesthetic simplicity rules with living levels crossed on the central stair axis. The result is a pleasant residence, custom made for a young family.
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CORN HOUSE	photos Van Leuven Bart
The exterior of the house of artists Dirk and Els is covered in red roof tiles. “I love to work with everyday materials and give them a new function”, says Dirk. That is also how he came up with the idea to plant corn in his front yard. See more

CUBE HOUSE

photos Dujardin Filip

This remarkable first floor residence was realised in 6 months. The planned approach is reflected in the details. From the 7 meter wide wooden beams in the ceiling right up to the screws in the aluminium stairs, everything was visualised on the computer screen. It is a conscious choice to omit doors or division walls in the residence. This house demands a life style which is not easy for all.
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DE UIL DEVRIENDT	photos Van Leuven Bart
The Belgian designer Jos Devriendt shows a selection of his work in house De Uil. This art-deco house was originally built by sculptor Karel Aubrouck and is now renovated by Vigilando Interiors. The owners work, live and also have their gallery in the house. See more

DIAGONAL HOUSE	photos Verne
In the design of the architect, innovation is the central theme. Exploring new materials leads to innovative forms, like this apartment on the seafront. Hardly any wall is perpendicular. The diagonal perspectives create a constant feeling of motion and gesture. See more

DROOG	photos Muller Fien
In the same way Droog is a collection of interesting and inspiring design objects, the house of Droog founder Renny Ramakers is a collection of her favourite things: books, furniture, special objects and art. All set in the plain white rooms created by architect Johan Decoker. See more

ELVIS POMPILIO

Hat designer Elvis Pompilio lives in a former warehouse in the heart of Brussels. Just like his hat collection, his house is an eclectic ensemble of styles. One room is decorated in a true 18th century chateau-style, another in complete Western/Wild West (?) style. The dining room has a more sober, 50-ies modern Scandinavian look, whilst the adjacent room is filled with an incredible mixture of things. A huge teddy bear and Barbie dolls, next to Gucci, Chanel and Hermes boxes. Records of Vicky Leandros, Claude François and Elvis Presley… Walking through this house is like walking through history in a non-logical way.
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FARMHOUSE	photos Verne
Peter was only 18 years old when he bought the old farmhouse. The first thing he did was digging an outside pool. After that, little by little he renovated the house and the stables. Today it is a mixture of romantic pastures, beautiful horses and a cosy home where modern furniture is placed in a historic setting See more

FLEXIBLE LOFT	photos Verne
The owners of this loft are both Argentinean, but their home base is NY. An artist studio, an office and a living space were created in the open space of the loft. Playfulness is the keyword. Walls can move around, bathroom and bedroom are like aquariums in the open space, and colourful details contrast with the white cube. See more

FOUR ROOM HOUSE	photos Verne
This small house is only 2, 40 meter wide and 5, 50 meters deep. The owners,an architect-couple, designed the house for themselves. Every floor has its function: the ground floor is the work-area, the first floor is for eating, the second floor for relaxing, the top floor for sleeping and on the roof you can enjoy the view from the bathtub. See more

FREDERIKSBERG	photos Verne
This apartment in Copenhagen was built in 1920 by a Jewish architect and is now owned by a young couple with three children. It is a mixture of Danish design and contemporary light fittings. The owners believe that less is more and only want to be surrounded by essential things. They love Danish artwork and live between their favourite pieces. See more

GARDENHOUSE	photos Muller Fien
This renovated garden house is like an oasis of calm. In the courtyard, beside the sunny terrace there is a peaceful ecological swimming pond. Independent of the fireplace, the whole house (including the swimming pond) is heated by solar power. See more

GASTON EYSSELINCK

photos Van Leuven Bart

Architect Gaston Eysselinck was seventeen when he first read Le Corbusier. When he was eighteen he visited the 'Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Moderne' in Paris. He was very much impressed by the ‘Pavillon de l'Esprit Nouveau’ by Corbu and the Russian pavilion by Melnikov. On travels to Holland, he became acquainted with the work of Rietveld. At the age of 24 he built his own 'machine à habiter' in Gent. Today another architect, Gilbert Decouvreur restored the house and furnished it with Scandinavian Modernistic pieces.
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GUESTHOUSE SH	photos Verne
This luxury guesthouse is located at the foot of the Cévennes. It has three rooms and three suites and an astonishing swimming pool and garden where you can sit down and dream away. See more

HEXENHAUS

photos Brown June & John

When Axel Bruchhäuser from TECTA met the British architects Alison and Peter Smithson in 1980, the idea grew to build a contemporary museum for his chair collection. Over the years the Smithsons redesigned his home and his factory according to the concept of ‘Conglomerate Ordering’. For the ‘Hexenhaus’ they created new pavilions, added porches, created doorways to the existing house and built bridges between the different rooms and pavilions. We recently had the opportunity to visit and photograph the completely finished en decorated 'Hexenhaus'.
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HILL HOUSE	photos Van de Velde Tim
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HOME IS WHERE WE WORK AND LIVE	photos Dujardin Filip
This old warehouse is transformed into a modern terraced home. The house is constructed on five different levels. Although you should not take that too literary with the architect, as he likes to toy with heights of various living functions. The work-zone is, unlike in the most houses, integrated in the living-area of the house. See more

HOUSE 43	photos Dujardin Filip
The architects of this home created a workshop, annex home for a graphic artist. All the details in the architecture as well in the interior elements added by the owner are a continuation of the graphic language spoken in this home. The central piece is undoubtably the glasshouse roof over the central garden. Sometimes it is a room, sometimes a garden depending on the mood of the day. See more

HOUSE AMAV

The architecten transformed the interior of a typical 2 bedroom apartment in the heart of Antwerp. The result is a small upper-level loft in urban style. Big sliding doors define enclosed areas -such as bedroom and bathroom- in an open living space. Industrial details are set in contrast with the custom made kitchen and high design furniture. The remaining existing concrete columns set off this urban feeling even more.
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HOUSE ARJB	photos Bollaert Stijn
This house was designed in 1969 by architect Herman Andriessen. A year after completion he past away. Now, the house has been restored by architect Arjaan De Feyter as an honour to the original architect. The whole building was stripped down, except for the steel structure, and then built up again. It reminds us of Villa Savoye and a ‘case study house’. See more

HOUSE ASSE

Architect builds own passive house. Sustainable architecture begins with the determination of the building site. The professional and social networks of the principal play an important role whilst looking for a good location: the proximity of work, schools, leisure clubs, good bike connections and public transport. The fact that these networks can relocate, also implies that the residence should be able to house other inhabitants with a different programme in the long run. This has consequences for the plan division of the residence. Different floor levels and ceiling levels add different atmospheres in this house. With this project, the architects show that the cliché idea of a passive house with thick walls and small windows is out of date.
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HOUSE BEO

What sort of house do you make of a garage? A challenge for the architect who let himself go with light and shadow. The result in unexpected openness and surprising perspectives. Right behind the garage the architect places the kitchen block: ceiling-high fitted cupboards and a cooking isle with Corian top. In white to preserve the unity. The black chairs by Verner Panton add contrast. As do the colourful yellow Polder sofa and small hassocks by Hella Jongerius.
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HOUSE BORGHS - VAN AMMEL	photos Vercruysse Frederik
This family house is designed by young Belgian architects. The owner of the property asked them to built a home where they could have some privacy. They designed a house which is almost completely closed at the street side and entirely executed in glass at the back side. See more

HOUSE BRAEM	photos Van de Velde Tim
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HOUSE CLAERHOUT	photos Van Leuven Bart
The house of architect Claerhout dating from the '60s, was renovated to be a house where living could be combined with an architectural design firm. A long wide corridor is the transition buffer between home and work, making a door between the two parts unnecessary. Have a look at this successful metamorphosis where work and lifestyle go hand in hand. See more

HOUSE COSAERT	photos Vercruysse Frederik
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HOUSE CQJB	photos Bollaert Stijn
The front of this house is totally executed in gray brick. You can only have a peek inside through the over dimensioned hallway, which can easily be transformed into a garage. The closed front forms a contrast to the open back of the house. See more

HOUSE D&VW	photos Van de Velde Tim
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HOUSE DCZ	photos Bamberghi Filippo
This house in Switzerland combines the art gallery and home of owner Monica. A gallery in a 15th century Engadin house. The powerful presence of 600-year -old wooden ceilings and the thick walls create and ideal environment for contemporary art. It became a place for contemplation and thoughtfulness. A place where tradition meets modernism. See more

HOUSE DE BRABANDERE	photos Verne
In an old edifice in the heart of Ghent, an artist and sculptor lives in his own universe. Half working place, half surreal scenery: the house as source of inspiration. See more

HOUSE DECUYPERE	photos Verne
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HOUSE DESAEGER
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HOUSE DS

From an anonymous building lot in an average suburb to a remarkable beacon in aesthetic architecture, that is the process of this compact newly built residence. The closed off black outside without view of the inside, turns out to be very open, spacious and light. It has become a successful exchange between architect, principal and interior designers. In spite of the complex structure of the house, there is a clear and open construction on the inside. The residence presents a strong image in the street with a reluctant sculptural volume on the outside, which is light, free and generous inside, open in three dimensions.
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HOUSE DVH

photos Kempenaers Jan

In 1996, four Belgian architects bought a nineteenth century industrial site in Ghent, with a total surface of 510 square meters. They partitioned the complex in three units, with a communal garden. They kept the existing structure. Only parts of the roof constructions and partitioning walls were replaced by new industrial materials. The original industrial atmosphere is still there, but thanks to the new materials, interesting natural light effects have been added to this historical complex and transformed it into contemporary urban architecture.
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HOUSE ERPE MERE	photos Blee Sarah
The owners of this house always dreamt of a large luxurious home, built in lovely natural materials. Nevertheless this project had to be discrete in its surroundings. The architect designed a modernistic house with rooms that seem to evolve into one another and that is perfectly embedded in its surroundings. See more

HOUSE FAUSTO

photos Bamberghi Filippo

This is the house and studio of a ceramic artist in Brescia, Italy. His practice is concerned with genetic research on plants and vegetation, planet earth’s exploitation by the humankind as well as nature’s spontaneous strategies to defend itself. He experiments with shapes and drawings, uses plain colour glazes as well as a neat and uncompromising mark-making. The artist aims to combine the traditional ceramic technique to modern and humble materials. And he is always ready for the next departure, willing to enlarge his knowledge, seeking contamination.
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HOUSE GERARD	photos Verne
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HOUSE HERAN

photos Van Leuven Bart

The private residence of architect Koen Heijse of the young Ghent based office Caan Architecten is a thoroughgoing paradox between minimalism and maximalism. The house is disrobed of all its applications so only the simplicity of form and the essence of material and details remain. The living experience seems to be in service of silence and is remarkably sculptural. However, at the same time the monolith radiates an extreme compactness. Drawings indeed unveil a complexity of daring spaces and distinctive circulations inside a strictly demarcated volume.
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HOUSE HUBERTY

photos Lindman Åke E:son

When building his own house in 1962, Jean-Mary Huberty wanted to exploit the characteristics of the material to the utmost limit and asked Paduart to collaborate on this project. They came to an agreement in which Huberty was responsible for the overall design and Paduart was responsible for the calculation of the thin concrete shell roof. The design is characterized by a very simple geometry and ground plan: a simple rectangle defines the overall lay-out of the plan, covered by a three-dimensional plane. Both the enclosing walls and the roof are made up of reinforced concrete; yet it is the roof that merits particular attention.
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HOUSE IN THE PYRENEES

Hidden in the mountains of the Pyrenees lays an old farmhouse that recently has been restored for the owners to live in, but also for guests who are seeking serenity and silence. The owner is an artist and decorated the place in a very particular way. There are Moorish elements, African details and a sort of silence captured in every view. Be it the vista over the mountains towards the old village, or the view over the pool towards the Mediterranean. This house is truly a place to forget the rest of the world.
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HOUSE IN THE WOODS	photos Blee Sarah
Hidden in the forest lays the discrete architecture of architects Eddy François en Caroline De Wolf. Fascinated by the Japanese principle of Wabi-sabi they built a home, where the beauty of the imperfect, incomplete and impermanent is celebrated. See more

HOUSE JOSA

The existing house fits in a typical Flemish settlement: a freestanding private house surrounded by a large garden. Low architecten designed the extension, a room with a view to the garden. The new volume includes a new open kitchen with living- and play room for the young family. To emphasize the relation with the surrounding nature, big windows alternate with big steel panels, which create a sculptural yet geometric image.
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HOUSE KNOKKE	photos Verne
The owners of this house really have a flair for vintage design. In their holiday house at the Belgian coast, they succeeded in combining historical pieces of Breuer, Eames, Ponti … The result is not only beautiful, but sociable too. See more

HOUSE MAZZOLI	photos Bamberghi Filippo
This house is situated in Modena and is the property of a well-known Italian galerist. It is the temporary home of artists who work together with the gallery. See more

HOUSE MIER	photos Van de Velde Tim
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HOUSE MILCAMPS	photos Van de Velde Tim
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HOUSE MV	photos Van de Velde Tim
House MV is the house of a Belgium based designer. He creates art installations, designs exhibitions, interiors, furniture and organizes exhibitions. See more

HOUSE PUYLAERT	photos Verne
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HOUSE RF	photos Muller Fien
AN EVER CHANGING CANVAS: some years ago this architect-couple bought an old warehouse along the river. The past four years they slowly moulded the place into their home. Little by little they added colour, texture, emotion an details to the blank canvas. And still today it is not considered finished. They continuously add, change and rummage through their house. See more

HOUSE S	photos Bollaert Stijn
This house is designed for a family with three children. The trees and bushes on the plot strongly influenced the design. The building, a stretched box of 72m long, was implanted in a north-south direction, to organise the terrain in a westerly entrance zone and an easterly private garden with pool. See more

HOUSE SCHUURMANS	photos Vercruysse Frederik
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HOUSE STJB	photos Bollaert Stijn
Although the footprint of this transparent house is only 4,5m by 8m, every floor has the air of a large open room. The building structure of the house is left visible and nothing is plastered or tiled. It is not immediately clear if this is due to a lack of budget or the architect meant it to be like this. See more

HOUSE URJB	photos Bollaert Stijn
This neo classicistic corner house has been renovated. It houses a studio on the ground floor and a Bed & Breakfast and private quarters for the owner on the higher levels. See more

HOUSE VAN DEN BOOGAARD

photos Lindman Åke E:son

Inspired by international avant-garde masters such as Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright, Van den Bogaerde built this masterpiece in 1966. The harmony between architecture, garden and surrounding forms the essence. An affiliation with Japanese architecture is expressed in the importance of integrating within that surrounding, the wooden construction, the open plan design, the sliding doors and the eaves. The designed a residence with an open plan, a simple, rectangular floor plan with symmetrical division and a large flexibility in the use of the rooms by using moveable or sliding panels.
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HOUSE VAN MEERBEEK

photos Dujardin Filip

This house is build right next to it’s neighbour. Only a small space was left open between the two houses to create a private corridor. One side façade of the house is executed in glass and creates on every floor an open and light space. The three similar floors of the house are divided by standard Ikea closets. On one side of the closets lay the day rooms, on the other side the night rooms. If necessary, the house can be reorganised without a problem.
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HOUSE VDW	photos Dujardin Filip
In this house in the Belgian Ardennes, there are 17 identical, elongated, upright windows in the facades. Their positions and combinations mean that several settings are created in this chalet using minimal resources and a limited floor area. The interior of the house is clad in oriented strand board (OSB). See more

HOUSE W	photos Vercruysse Frederik
Flowing spaces and an intense relation with nature. After more than 35 years, the villa is still up to date. The inhabitants are fascinated by art, literature and timeless design. It is no surprise that they chose a poet-architect. With a striking preference for slope corners. To give and to take. See more

JACQUES VERNEST	photos Verne
This house is located in the artist village Sint-Maartens Latem, outside of Ghent. The owners have been living in this house for the past 40 years and it grew along with their lives. Typical modernist pieces, an old Thonet chair once belonging to the grandparents, but also contemporary pieces by Jasper Morisson or Maarten Van Severen furnish the house. See more

JEANNA	photos Verne
In a charming brownstone, right on the border between safe, familial Clinton Hill and rough Brooklyn, a young family set up their American life. The house oozes so much authenticity that they instantly fell in love with it. See more

JO VAN RIJCKEGHEM	photos Van Leuven Bart
Poetic family house. The pure, rural surrounding where artist Jo Van Rijckeghem lives is unmistakeably reflected in his work. Simplicity and sobriety set the tone in this warm family house, where creativity shimmers See more

JOSEPH KOSUTH

photos Van Leuven Bart

Joseph Kosuth’s city palace in Gent The American artist Joseph Kosuth and art historian Cornelia Lauf used to live in this grand old city palace in Gent. They decorated it in a very particular way. They restored the old rooms and added some pieces of art by Marcel Duchamp or Joseph Kosuth himself. Behind the luscious inner garden Kosuth had his studio. In these ancient rooms, full of inspiration, he created his artworks.
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JOSEPH KOSUTH NY	photos Verne
The loft of Joseph Kosuth has that typical factory feel, resulting from the invisible beams and pipes in the large rooms. The decoration happened gradually and evolved with the inhabitants. The majority of the furniture has been found at flea markets. See more

KOENIG

Case Study House No. 22 This monument in the architectural history was built in 1959 by Pierre Koenig. Thanks to the iconographic photographs of Julius Shulman taken at the time of finishing the project, this house of Mr. and Mrs. Stahl stands symbol for the American fifties and the Californian dream. Together with Mrs. Stahl we watched the sun set over Los Angeles and listened to her stories about more than 45 years of living in what to her is a simple family house.
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LEON STYNEN	photos Vercruysse Frederik
In 1933 the Modernist architect Leon Stynen built his own home in Antwerp on the previous Expo site. The Council of Antwerp had the idea to create a district like the Weissenhofsiedlung in Stuttgart, where only modernist homes could be built. Alas, this dream was never realised, but Stynen did design nine houses in his peculiar style. His own home has recently been renovated. See more

LIVING ON BROADWAY

Living on Broadway is already a sensation in itself. And when the flat is decorated in a grand fifties style, by one of New York’s important architects, James Biber from Pentagram, one can consider oneself a lucky person. We were able to share this sensation; for two days we stayed in the private rooms of a film director and a writer. Their names must remain secret, but their interior we can share with you.
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LOFT ANTWERP	photos Blee Sarah
Two former apartments have been transformed into a contemporary loft & office. Using coloured walls, the inventive play between the open plan & the cosy, natural light versus subtle artificial lighting, old and new elements merge into a comfortable and colourful home environment.' See more

LOFT BOOM	photos De Baerdemaeker Kat
The owners of this loft did not always dream of living in a loft. Quite the contrary, they were looking for a classic mansion. During their search they came across an old mill that soon would be transformed into lofts. Their search stopped then and there, they had found their perfect home. See more

LOFT BRUGGE	photos Dujardin Filip
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LOFT BRUSSELS	photos Van Leuven Bart
A warehouse in the centre of Brussels has been transformed into a loft. Windows have been placed over the entire south side of the living area to allow the daylight to come into the room as much as possible. Because of the large windows, a perforated ceiling was necessary to improve the acoustic. The children’s room, playroom and living room are situated around a patio. See more

LOFT DMVA

MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN BOXY KITCHEN PAVILION

dmvA stands for: ‘by means of Architecture’ (door middel van Architectuur). It is a young architects-duo, which aims to make extreme architecture. By this they mean architecture without compromises. This loft in Brussels is a good example. The young couple that lives in it wanted an open space but a separate bed and bathroom. The architects came up with the solution of movable boxes made out of the canvasses used for trucks and trailers
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LOFT DVVT	photos Van de Velde Tim
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LOFT KM	photos Van de Velde Tim
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LONG ISLAND SUMMERHOUSE	photos Verne
The architect of this summerhouse in Long Island designed in a minimal architecture a luxurious interior. The rooms are simple boxes in soft colours, furbished with baroque pieces, classical 50ies furniture and Asian antiques. See more

Belgian designer/architect Maarten Van Severen is known for his furniture design, of which most is produced by Vitra. He has also collaborated on different prestigious architectural projects, such as the Van Abbe Museum, or Maison à Bordeaux by OMA. Van Severen only realised one complete new building, as an annex to a renovation of an existing cottage. The result is an extraordinary composition: a country house from 1904, a contemporary glass pavilion, a romantic garden by Aldrik Heirman and an astonishing collection of furniture pieces from the past 50 years. Sadly enough Maarten Van Severen never saw this project completely finished, as he passed away last winter, far too young.
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN BOXY KITCHEN PAVILION 02	photos Van Leuven Bart
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN CHAIRS	photos Muller Fien - Van Leuven Bart
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN CREPAIN	photos Van Leuven Bart
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN DEBROCK	photos Muller Fien - Van Leuven Bart
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN LEMOINE	photos Muller Fien - Van Leuven Bart
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN LIGHTING	photos Muller Fien - Van Leuven Bart
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN SMAK	photos Muller Fien
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN STUDIO	photos Muller Fien - Van Leuven Bart
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN TABLES	photos Muller Fien - Van Leuven Bart
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MAARTEN VAN SEVEREN VAN ABBEMUSEUM	photos Muller Fien
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MADE IN INDIA	photos Ocelli Laura
The owner of this apartment is a fashion designer, originally from New Delhi, who moved to New York twenty-two years ago. Light and colourful are the essential keys to describing the interior of the loft. See more

MANSION 1890	photos Verne
This mansion was built in the 19th century and is situated in the middle of the Jewish quarter of Antwerp. The house has always been respected by its previous owners, it reflects a minimalist, lived through atmosphere and is adapted to contemporary comfort without losing its personality. It can be described in only a few words: no nonsense, romantic, forgotten glory, discretion, … See more

MARIE MEES	photos Van Leuven Bart
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MATHILDE	photos Bollaert Stijn
This small conventional house has been rebuilt by a group of young architects. The kitchen opens up to a white living area with spacious windows. See more

MATIN

The house is located in the Hollywood hills and is decorated in a very European way. Not only because one of the owners is originally British, but mainly because they love a European lifestyle, mixed with the laid-back Californian way of living. Their modernistic fifties home is centred around a beautiful swimming pool, which seems to be excavated from the hill slope. They respected the original open-plan architecture and just added some beautiful art pieces and modern furniture.
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MELROSE PLACE	photos Brown June & John
An old factory has been transformed in several lofts and artist workshops. In one of the lofts lives the owner with her two daughters. The interior of the house has grown over the years. It is a collection of things that she got as a gift or bought on a flea market. See more

MELROSE PLACE 2	photos Verne
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MELROSE PLACE 3	photos Verne
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MEN'S WORLD	photos Van Leuven Bart
In this renovated old house, the staircase, which brings you from floor to floor, is the centrepiece of the house. The small rooms on each floor are connected through mezzanines. The architect does not believe in meticulous architectural calculation, but in creating different atmospheres. The experience is all that matters. See more

MILL LOFT	photos Ocvirk Kus Danica
An old industrial mill has been transformed into loft units. One of the lofts was bought by antique collectors. The Venetian glass, antiques and design furniture in the white ambience create an exciting and theatrical feeling. See more

MINIMALIST HOUSE	photos Van Leuven Bart
White, beige and grey are the colours that dominate this house. It feels like a monastery for one single couple. In the midst of green fields, the minimalism of the interior seems to compensate for the lush surroundings. See more

MONASTERY

An entire wing of a Tuscan monastery has been converted into a place where the owner can live in perfect harmony with history, his artistic creations and the wealthy fellow-villager. The interior design of the house is very sober and emphasizes the historical character and architecture of the old monastery. “I try to add my own history to the building, without violating its original character. This house demands quality. The spare decorative items must be of solid quality.”
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MONTMOREAU CASTLE	photos Gabriel Jean-Pierre
The Montmoreau castle, a classified historical monument from 1453 in the Charente in France is being restaurated. In the restoration process the greenhouse and the 18th century house have already been restored. See more

MORRIS LAPIDUS

In 2001, Morris Lapidus died at the age of 98. In his lifetime the critics of high architecture never appreciated his work, on the contrary. The New York Times once wrote: ‘it is super schlock. Pornography of architecture.’ Nevertheless, Lapidus designed 1,200 buildings, including 250 hotels worldwide, applying a showmanship and theatrical aesthetic that thrilled pleasure seeking people (?). One of his most famous works is the Fontainebleau built in 1954. The famous resort, with its Hollywood-inspired version of Old World style, would later be used in scenes of the 1964 James Bond film, "Goldfinger."
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MULTIFUNCTIONAL HOME	photos Dujardin Filip
This 19th century house was renovated with a maximum respect for the original features of the house. The multifunctional rooms that were created can be closed or opened up by moveable partitioning walls. The red colour is a reference to the owners love for Henri van de Velde and Bauhaus, where red was often used in interiors. See more

NEW MANSION

Walking through this impressive house is like making a time travel from the Middle Ages to the present time.The history of this new mansion dates back to the 16th century when the building was erected as a brewer’s house. Over the years, the house has known quite some alterations and renovations, resulting in a different ambience in each room. Thanks to its rich history and the various building campaigns over the years, the house became very diverse and valuable. Also the garden was completely restyled in collaboration with a scenic architect.
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NY INTERIOR DV	photos Verne
What was meant as a temporary home, became the new family home. The living room gives away the owner her Latin roots: large plants create a very special ambience, as a garden in a living room. Her fine taste for art deco and modernistic furniture gives this apartment a timeless feeling with a jazzy air. See more

NY INTERIOR FL

This apartment, on the top floor of a former industrial building on Broadway, belongs to an architect couple. They kept the space very raw and created different living and working area’s. Like gardens in a wild environment. The office, the kitchen, the living room and the bedrooms all have a slightly different atmosphere in an overall subtle interior. The red threat through this place is the mid century design by people like Jean Prouvé and Hans Wegner, and their modest but exquisite art & book collection.
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NY INTERIOR JG	photos Verne
A gallery is situated on the ground floor of this house, the rest of the building is the owners' family house. Art and life is in a very interesting and quirky way intertwined. See more

NY INTERIOR LP	photos Verne
This downtown loft is a mix of sixties fashion with an intriguing Pop Art collection, vintage furniture and a lively ambience. The bright colours of the interior reflect the enthusiasm of the owner. See more

NY INTERIOR MV	photos Verne
A photographer and stylist met one another in New York on a job for the Italian Vogue some twenty years ago. Today they still live in New york, with their teenage twins. From their townhouse on the Upper East they run a successful fashion photography studio. See more

ORANGERIE MONTMOREAU	photos Gabriel Jean-Pierre
This is a classified historical monument from 1453 in the Charente in France. In the restoration process the greenhouse and the 18th century house in which the owners temporary live have already been restored. See more

OUTGAARDEN

Architects 51N4E were asked to renovate this house. They proposed to rearrange the desired programs, so that each programmatic shift would engender new relationships. The pool, by the client initially imagined in the backyard, is placed in the middle of the courtyard. The kitchen is moved to the periphery of the farm, in order to optimize deliveries and access to storage spaces. Everything in the design underscores the contrast between the kitchen and the storage space. In between kitchen and storage an exclusive Carrara Bianca sliding wall is inserted.
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PALM SPRINGS

Under the burning sun of Palm Springs lays this motel. A typical fifties hang-out, which people like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner and others used as their favourite hide-out. Today the motel is the overnight Mecca of the architectural tourist who comes to admire the Kaufmann house by Neutra, or the Fire Station by Albert Frey. Palm Springs has more than 600 houses, shops and hotels built in the American 'Contemporary Style' of the fifties. It was the proof of the 'American dream'. Today Palm Springs is not that often visited by movie stars, but rather by architecture and design lovers. The motel meets the desires of the new public, since every room is decorated in a different fifties style: the Marilyn Monroe room, the Jasper Johns Room, The Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Suite.
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PALMS

Venice Beach is undoubtedly still the favourite hangout of artists and bohemians. The architect of this property had the chance to build his new home in Venice. He created a building that looks like a modern Bohemian shelter. Large coloured windshields cover the main façade, so the privacy of his family is guaranteed even when the building is completely open. With an ingenious system of huge windows, which open from floor to ceiling. This is the ideal home of the contemporary BoBo. One lives practically outside, but with all the comfort of a modern home.
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PATIO + HOUSE	photos Lindman Åke E:son
This project consists of two houses, lived in by one family. Originally the building was a small school, converted in the 90-ies. Recently an additional house, as part of the patio, has been designed. Using a meticulous grid the architects created transparent inside and outside rooms, with a changing wallpaper according to the seasons. See more

PIERRE MISSEGHERS	photos Van Leuven Bart
This house, built in 1963 is an example of popular art deco. The new owner stressed the art-deco feeling by colouring the walls and by painting a huge mural inspired by the work of 'Tamara de Lempicka '. As a finishing touch, he added throughout the house interesting illuminating objects, by contemporary artists. See more

PIETER DEBRUYNE	photos Dujardin Filip
From the street, this house looks quite ordinary. Only the round mirror in the door and the blue glass of the windows suggest that behind the façade a particular interior lays hidden. It used to be the private home of furniture and interior designer Pieter De Bruyne. He renovated the house in the seventies and created a mystical atmosphere. See more

POLICE STATION TARL

The reform of the police led to the desire to give the services a new, positive and transparent image. Obviously, this also created the need for a new office. In this police office, the transparency is not only expressed on the outside, but also on the inside. The communication between the different departments has been made more intense by the open space of the atrium. And also visitors can experience this openness through the transparency of the foyer.
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PRUITT - EARLY	photos Verne
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RAFAEL VINOLY LI	photos Verne
Diana Vignoly, the wife of the well-known architect Rafael Vignoly redecorated an old Long Island summerhouse into a haven of comfort and authenticity. Hidden in the green, the white house on top of a slope is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The interior is a mix of ethnic pieces and antiques bought at the local yard sales. See more

RENOVATED ART-DECO HOUSE	photos Van Leuven Bart
This art-deco house has been renovated by a Ghent-based architect, who designed it for his family, to live in. He revived the historical art-deco elements with bright colours and contemporary furniture. See more

REVISED HOUSE

Farm in a new outfit. The image of the typical Flemish farm is by looking at these successful renovations instantly forgotten. The architect made illuminating and spacious changes that created a completely different house. In the back of the farm he made a gallery from which you now have a panoramic view of the green surroundings. In the front he placed the windows at different heights. That creates a playful effect that breaks the linearity of the living room.
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RICARDO BOFILL	photos Verne
Like a stronghold, the old cement factory reigns the surrounding, just outside Barcelona. The controversial Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill fell for the impressive architecture and bought the substantial complex 25 years ago. It currently houses offices and his own talked-about and very comfortable residence. See more

RICHARD NEUTRA

This house was the location of the Hollywood movie: Laurel Canyon. After the film, the director decided to have the original Neutra House, -built in 1934 for the Sten-Frenke family-, reconstructed and redecorated. The architects Marmol -Razinger were responsible for the renovations. James Biber of Pentagram took care of the interiors. The result is a grand combination of a historical building with a contemporary interpretation of a fifties interior.
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RITA	photos Brown June & John
After a career at an Antwerp fashion designer, Rita moved to Mallorca. There, she found the perfect plot of land, designed and built her house and started a children’s clothing line. See more

RUTH COUNTRY HOUSE	photos Verne
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RYAD SHARAI

photos Gabriel Jean-Pierre

One of the four biggest Ryads in Marrakech is hidden behind a weather-beaten door in the narrow streets of the Bab Tharhzout quarter. A Ryad is a house with patio. The patio of this historical building is very large indeed, and that was the reason why Laurence Kluft and Michael Arts fell in love with this place the moment they saw it. The house has seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. All the bedrooms are situated around the patio and the pool. Behind the labyrinth of rooms there is a staircase leading to the terraces. From there you have a magnificent view of the city
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SCULPTURAL HOUSE

photos Lindman Åke E:son

The sculpture house was designed as a synthesis of structure and form. This 'living-sculpture' was undertaken by the team as a reaction against the general pressure of the sixties towards standardization of forms in architecture, in which an artistic poverty and deficiency needed to be counterbalanced through collaboration with sculptors and painters. The merit of the artistic collaboration is evident when looking at the scheme of the building yard. The unity of form and material combined with sculptures are the focus of this architectural gem.
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SINAAI	photos Blee Sarah
The typical dark-brown colour palette of the old farmhouse had to make place for light colours. Nostalgic elements like the old fireplaces and the original flooring were restored and form a perfect backdrop for the modern elements. See more

SKY STUDIO	photos Verne
This loft on the twelfth floor of an old building on Broadway has been designed by its inhabitant and architect Jonathan Leitersdorf. Its style is grandiose. You have the impression that you are walking from a castle, via a French kitchen to the souks, or through an Indian gate to a luxurious French bathroom. See more

SMALL SPACE	photos Blee Sarah
Although this small house has a footprint of only five by seven meters, the rooms feel spacious. In each floor another coloured box stands central in the open plan. The boxes house the technical rooms as kitchen and bathroom. See more

SOTTSASS BIRDHOUSE

Italian architect Ettore Sottsass designed a spectacular home for a Belgian galerist. The house is like a small city, with centrally a huge cage where the owner has his favourite birds. On the side of the birdhouse are the different night-and dayrooms of the family. On the top floor there is a large kitchen and dining room, almost like a restaurant. Although the house is huge and the rooms very spacious, Sottsass created a cosy, bohemian feeling atmosphere.
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SOTTSASS LANAKEN	photos Verne
Ettore Sottsass is famous for his ceramics, furniture and the designer’s collective Memphis. Over the past few years the eighty three year old designer and architect has started to build houses too, in Hongkong, the United States and in Belgium. See more

SPACE CABINE	photos Dujardin Filip
Because the owners did not have the budget to renovate their entire house, in the city centre of Ghent, at once, they designed a small studio on 38m2 like a space cabin in James Bond style. See more

STABLE HOUSE	photos Ocvirk Kus Danica
A former stable house has been converted into a photography studio, office space and living area on the top floor. See more

STAMBERG & AFERIAT	photos Verne
Architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat love a sober design and lots of colours. Each of their projects has its own story. To be sure the mix of colours will not be kitsch, they base their choices on one or more works of art. See more

STEELWOOD TOWNHOUSE	photos Ocvirk Kus Danica
This house is located in Houston and was built in 1969 to demonstrate the use of steel in residential constructions. The new owners restored the house, respecting its original design. See more

STEINFELD	photos De Baerdemaeker Kat
The owners of this house wanted a modern and comfortable family house. And a place where they could expose their art collection. The result is a contemporary home in a respectable villa district on the outskirts of Brussels. See more

STUART PARR LI

Le Corbusier had one, Philippe Starck has one and here and there some BoBo’s prefer them over a villa by the sea: A shack by the sea. The New Yorker Stuart Parr lives in a fancy loft in Manhattan, but on weekends he drives his red pick up truck to Long Island, where he and his friends enjoy the ‘simple’ life. The wooden shack is no more than a roof over the kitchen and the bedroom. But nevertheless heaven on earth.
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STUDIO LONDON	photos Blee Sarah
This modern conversion and extension of a Victorian Terrace House in London creates a living and working environment which integrates both office and home. The home converts from a working office by day to a family home by night with surprising ease. See more

SURFERS HOME	photos Verne
This home can best be described as a luxury base-camp for a surfer’s family. Along the Belgian coast architects Renaud De Poorter and Femke Holdrinet transformed this former basement warehouse into a cosy holiday resort See more

TANNERY	photos Van Leuven Bart
This house used to be a tannery and a coach house. It is hard to grasp the original architecture of the house, it feels as if the rooms are strangely linked and clasped between the neighbouring houses. You do not experience it as a house, but as a collection of adjacent rooms in which the owner searches for authenticity and harmony between his artworks and the inspiring past. See more

TANNERY.01	photos Verne
This house used to be a tannery and a coach house. It is hard to grasp the original architecture of the house, it feels as if the rooms are strangely linked and clasped between the neighbouring houses. You do not experience it as a house, but as a collection of adjacent rooms in which the owner searches for authenticity and harmony between his artworks and the inspiring past. See more

TEAMWORK	photos Van Leuven Bart
The owners of this house are both designers. He as an interior decorator, she makes art. With joined strength and a lot of creativeness they decorated their house. The result is a captivating mix of design classics, vintage and a subtle personal input. See more

TECTA

photos Brown June & John

When Axel Bruchhäuser from TECTA met the British architects Alison and Peter Smithson in 1980, the idea grew to build a contemporary museum for his chair collection. Over the years the Smithsons redesigned his home and his factory according to the concept of ‘Conglomerate Ordering’. On the factory grounds the creative couple intervened on several places, making it into an ‘industrial park’ á la Schinkel, an old dream of Axel Bruchhäuser. The main buildings house the Kragstuhlmuseum. We recently had the opportunity to visit and photograph the TECTA offices and museum.
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TEMPORARY LOFT	photos Verne
This temporary loft is situated in an old factory. The owners are transforming the ground floor and first floor into a gallery and home. During the transformation they live on the top floor, which they decorated in a clever way. See more

TEMPORARY OFFICE	photos Kempenaers Jan
This temporary office is situated in Brussels. It is constructed out of recycled industrial materials. The designers describe it as legal squatting. They never asked permission to the town, to build this, but they do have permission from the owner of the plot. The neighbourhood also gave their permission for this yellow parasite. See more

TEN BOS	photos Vercruysse Frederik
This old farmhouse has been transformed in a contemporary home for the owners and their three sons. The ground floor houses a library and work-zone, kitchen, living room and bedroom for the parents. On the first floor, the children have their bedroom. See more

THE CONCEIVABLE HOUSE	photos Vercruysse Frederik
How much imagination can a house bear? And can architecture tell a story? Or do the inhabitants fill up the story? The entire floor of an apartment building has been radically decorated in accordance with a novel by the Dutch writer Willem Frederik Herman’s, ‘The God conceivable, the conceivable God’ See more

THE HOUSE AROUND THE STAIRWAYS	photos Vercruysse Frederik
This cabinet worker’s studio from 1931 has been restored into a cosy-loft-like residence with a lot of respect for the past. The owners live and work in the same space. A central large stairway with vistas from the different rooms and floors is the core of the house. See more

THE JAMES BOND HOUSE

The owner of this futuristic home hoped that, one day, Sean Connery would set foot in his house. ‘Even though the architect and his wife rarely leave the house, they have an impressive garage. Only a glass partition separates the hall leading to the bedrooms from the garage. Under white sheets we discover a BMW motorcycle, the old black Citroen CX, a 2CV and a Porsche bearing the license number 008. During our visit to the house I could not help thinking of James Bond. The flair, the plain luxury, the dramatic architecture and scenery were reminiscent of his style. Although it is not proper to ask an architect if James Bond inspires him, I did make a slight insinuation towards the car. I expected an intellectual answer but got this instead: “I am obviously not 007, but I am 008. I did once send a letter to James, to say he would be welcome to use our house as a film set, but I never received an answer.”
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THE MODERNIST

His company name is 'the modernist', but Lukasz Majewski is interested in much more than just modernist furniture. His apartment in Antwerp is like a treasure room, where he keeps all his favourite pieces: a drawing by Joe Colombo, a picture by Man Ray, original 50ies pieces by Prouvé, sofas from the SAS lounge designed by Arne Jacobsen,... At the age of 28 he has gathered an impressing collection.
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TOM CALLEBAUT	photos Verne
Interior architect Tom Callebaut created a house for his young family. He wanted a place where it is fun and relaxing to go home to. A kind of everlasting vacation feeling. He transformed the traditional house into a modern living space without doors, and with rooms that are evolving into one another. See more

TOWER HOUSE	photos Gabriel Jean-Pierre
With a footprint of only 13m by 6,40m this modern tower oversees the landscape and is both compact and monumental. The main reason why architect and owner chose for a vertical instead of a horizontal home is their respect for the old trees on the terrain. Any other form would have meant that trees had to be chopped down. See more

TRANSFORMED WAREHOUSE	photos Van Leuven Bart
In the old historical heart of Gent, stylist Christa bought an old warehouse and reconstructed it into a spacious home. The basic of the architecture is black, white and grey colours. The strong and bright colour details are temporary, because for Christa, a house is a laboratory and changes everyday. See more

TRANSPARENT HOUSE	photos Van de Velde Tim
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TREE HOUSE	photos De Baerdemaeker Kat
In this guesthouse you feel like Mowgli in the jungle, high in your hut between the branches of the trees. See more

TRIPLEX APARTMENT	photos Vercruysse Frederik
This apartment is situated in an old office building. The owner, who is an architect, added an extra floor and a terrace. The first floor consists of a sitting room, the bedroom and the adjoining bathroom. The second floor is an open kitchen with a mezzanine to the office, next to the terrace. See more

TUSCANY GUESTHOUSE	photos Verne
In the heart of Tuscany lays this beautiful guesthouse, it is an old farm dating back from the middle of the 19th century. The farm has been reconstructed in the original rural Tuscan style found in the area called ‘Crete Senesi‘ and offers the opportunity to spend dream holidays. See more

TUSCANY PALAZZO

Where Umbria meets Tuscany, high above mysterious misty forests a remarkable palazzo is hidden. This secretive and simply unique treasure was discovered by an occasional passer-by who fell in love instantly and decided there and then that this palazzo was her destiny. For years she worked on the combination of the right colour schemes, matching the furniture and finding the softest textiles. All this time Verdi, Bellini and Puccini were her soundtrack, they would later give their names to the luxurious suites.
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VERLINDEN	photos Verne
Landscape architect Verlinden lives in an old house in Mullem. The interior is cosy and filled with beautiful antique objects, which each have a story. The garden is a romantic country garden, with every season other flowers and plants that blossom. See more

VILLA ARTS	photos Dujardin Filip
Michael arts, one of the leading figures of Tommy Hilfiger built his own home in the woods, near Antwerp. Inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright he designed a house where he retires with his family and friends, inbetween is transcontinental flights. The house is a combination of authentic details, luxury and souvenirs from all over the world. See more

VILLA LIBEERT	photos Lindman Åke E:son
Art-collector Filiep Libeert and his wife Mimi asked Belgian architect Wim Goes to reconvert this old Tudor-style house into a contemporary home, where the family can live comfortably between the art. Goes added a glass pavilion which leads to a glass room in the heart of the garden. The garden is designed by Aldrik Heirman. See more

VINCENT VAN DUYSEN	photos Blee Sarah
This home, built by architect Vincent Van Duysen, at the end of the nineties, has been styled according to the personality of the owners. Nevertheless the strong and sober signature of Vincent Van Duysen is omnipresent. See more

VINTAGE APARTMENT	photos Verne
The owner has been buying Belgian vintage furniture since he was eighteen. Now his collection is worth quite a lot, but rather than selling, he prefers to live with his favourite pieces. In Gent, he has a small apartment that he furbished in a clever way. See more

VLADIMIR KAGAN

The New York home of furniture designer Vladimir Kagan and needlework artist Erika Wilson is an eclectic mix of fifties design furniture, arts and crafts elements and a long family life. For the past forty years they have lived in this uptown apartment with their children. In the fifties, Kagan and Wilson were very popular with their work, and recently their designs are a new hype. Fendi launched the pieces of Vladimir, Anna Sui and Missoni work with Erika’s needlework.
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WABBES	photos Gabriel Jean-Pierre
Jules Wabbes designed his first furniture in the fifties. In 1957 he started his own production company. Besides large office buildings he has decorated some private houses as well. Together with his wife, author of children’s books, he lived on the countryside. See more

WACO

The interior of a typical Flemish dwelling is renewed by Low architecten. The new comfortable living space, which opens onto the private back garden, is visually connected to an open kitchen thanks to a big window with wooden frames. The kitchen is a dynamic composition of low kitchen cabinets and a kitchen island, both simple shapes with surprising accents of color, with a black marble wall on the background. The office space, with the same new flooring as the rest of the ground floor, is integrated in the family house, but functions perfectly on its own as a one man law office. Ceiling high cupboards made from wooden and sanded brass panels are combined with a desk designed by Low: a Perspex desktop on top of a brass leg structure.
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WATER TOWER	photos Verne
For a long time the owner was in love with an old water tower and the little park around it, outside of Antwerp. Although it was by no means possible to live in the old tower, since it was just a skeleton, with a huge barrel on top, he started dreaming of building it into a house. And six years later, together with his architect, he made a dream come through. See more

WAUX PAVILION	photos Lanoo Julien
Between the Brussels palace and parliament, in the Warande park, lays a forgotten open-air theatre, the Waux Hall. Baron Eric d’Huart saved the property from its downfall and restored it with a lot of talent and patience. See more

WIT