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.
Open Albumrevised 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.
Open Albumeye care for you
In the south of the Netherlands, a new 'concept store' has opened its doors.The architects have retought the concept of an eye care centre.They've combined the practical part of an optician-eye clinic with the artistic side of a gallery.In merging these two sides the architects created an artspace surrounded with suspended volumes.
Open Albumhouse mv
This is the house of a Belgium based designer. He creates art installations, designs exhibitions, interiors, furniture and organizes exhibitions. The house is a nice contradiction of the image one has of the 'concept' designer. In an everyday, average belgian setting, he and his partner created their own space, a retreat of the sometimes hectic agenda.
Open Albumbilt
This house has a distinct, autonomous and geometrical design, by which it wants to dialogue with its environment. By its form, the house distuiguishes itself from the environment, but also makes a dialogue trough the open structure and by embedding itself into the soil. The pyramidal design gave the architect the chance to embody all these elements, altough the first trigger of the design was of more practical nature.
Open Albumtyne cot cemetry
Tyne Cot Cemetry lies where some of the most gruesome battles during WW1 took place. It is one of the biggest Commonwealth cemetries. To make the remembrance of war and death more overwhelming and alive, a serene building was created. It functions as an entry to the cemetry, but also as a museum where stories, artefacts, letters are kept from those who were killed and those who were left behind at home.
Open Albumdansk pavillon
Impressions of the Danish pavillion by BIG at the World Expo in Shanghai China.
Open Albumhidden-loft km
Although there is practically nothing in it, this loft is full of architecture. That's the contradiction of this open, immensely white and almost sacred space. This architects' loft functions as a retreat, "away from it all, here, there and everywhere". Converging lines, a black opening in the wall, a stand alone box, it all contributes to this architectural sculpture.
Open Albumhouse beo-narrow house
With this project the architect wanted to give his distinctive interpretation of a row-house. The front side of the house- and also the rest- makes a dissonant statement in this small belgian village.
Open Albumhouse mier
'Ecology'. It has been a buzz word for some years now. Usually, when you see an 'ecologic' project, it goes along with advanced and often expensive techniques. This project is quite the contrary.
Open Albumpetrol
This monolith concerte block painted in petroleum blue lies between a wasteland, the Antwerp harbour and a freeway. Although straightforward in its lining, it has nothing to do with pure and elegantly lined modern architecture. Which makes it only more relevant. This entity functions as an 'understation' for an electricity transporting firm.
Open Albumrocket science
The boss of an ICT firm decided the shabby days were over. He treated himself and his employees to an upgrade. From now on, decent office pavillions and glass meeting spaces, with the works on it.
Open Albumloft in the back of my yard
An old printing office was revived by the architect living there. She created an open atmosphere in these spaces. Actually, she inverted the traditional point of view. Special feature here, is the use of coloured glass. At night the corridor bathes in colored light, emphasizing the colored panels. The central living area gives a place to the modern art collection of her husband.
Open Albumwolverhampton house
In this renovation of an old family house, the architects have tried to maintain the spirit of the house. Nevertheless they added a modern accent.Eye-catcher is the corridor made between the home office and the living part of the house. It also functions as the entrance of the house.
Open Albumfiat lux-house milcamps
This is exactly what the architects did with the renovation of this four storey house. The central shaft brings light within the heart of the house, but also functions as a communication device.
Open Albumhouse cité
It was a real challenge to renovate this, once so dark, workman's house. But the architects opened up the whole central vertical column so they could pull in light. What was once a little service station for cars on the ground floor, is now a space which can function as a gallery. Going up everything is renovated quite basic. The owner insisted on keeping the place spartan, as he didn't want to abandon his nomadic existance.
Open Albumapartment ba
This old oven-dish factory is now the home of Architectslab but also of 13 families in different lofts and apartments. The contrast is quite striking. Outside you have the hectic but appealing Brussels city life. Inside, a village calm falls over you. The whole site is renovated with great respect for the original Art-Deco and modernist architecture.
Open Albumapartment bvb
In an old milling factory, the owners bought one of the available lots. As it was quite small, the architect left one half open, thus keeping an openness to the aprtment. In the other half he created a white volume. This incorporates all practical facilities and functions as a mezzanine with office space and a spare room.
Open Albumapartment mh
The renovation of this appartment tried to stay true to its origins. Typical elements, like floors and arches, were kept. The architects wanted a stylisch design. Together with the nice furniture taste of the owner it makes a perfect picture. This place is ideal to retreat from a vibrant city life.
Open Albumbird's nest
One of China's new national symbols. On a working trip through China we had to let pass the Great Wall and the Forbidden City seemed to be a real crowd attractor. After flashing by the CCTV building through wicked chinese traffic, this National Stadium was one thing we couldn't miss out on.
Open Albumblack box showroom
What do you do when your client is short of office-/showroomspace and has a warehouse in spare? The solution was siple and elegant. As the clients' core business is aluminum window structures, the architects opened up the entire lenght of the warehouse with windows of black aluminum. Inside the big space was subdivided in different small boxes, according to the style of window, thus creating various office units.
Open Albumblack coat house
On the green outskirts of Brussels, a little village house got a complete renovation. It was transformed into a modern volume covered in black metal panels. The irregular linear lining gives it a special feel. On the inside the traditional division of spaces has been turned over. Living areas have been created on the first floor. In doing so, the park on the other side of the street can be overlooked. On the top floor there is a mezzanine with office. A window on the right place gives a nice view on the tree tops.
Open Albumbrickyard
Along the Rupel river, near the belgian town of Boom, lies an old wasteland of narrow bumpy roads, small workman's houses and abandoned industrial buildings. Once, this was the heart of belgian brick industry. But that was then. Now this old industrial burrough is being renovated bit by bit. It's in this setting, a young couple started the adventure of transforming an old brickyard into a renovated loft.
Open Albumstation to station-calatrava liège
Belgium, and especially the city of Liège, was extremely proud of accomplishing this design of Santiago Calatrava. Instead of the old, grimm, dark stationbuilding Liège got a new, white steel-structured station, radiating with light. The open architecture has a very welcoming effect. Hopes are raised that this will enforce the ongoing renaissance of the city.
Open Albumcasbagrafica
In the middle of the woods near Villers-la-Ville lies a small remarkable building in black zinc. On a not that evident piece of land, with a big angle of inclination, the architects built a small home for a young couple. In daytime it absorbes the radiant light of the woods. At night its a comforting shelter against darkness.
Open Albumcinematek
Before transformation, this national filmmuseum was a dark and closed environment. It also had a lot of problems in conservating the vast collection of historic pellicule films. In becoming Cinematek, a general plan was conceived. This lightened up the whole museum and an opening was made to Bozar-Centre for Fine Arts, next door.
Open Albumcub's house
Building conventions are not easy to break in small villages. But the architect and owner stuck to their plans. This white box functions as home but also as an artist's work place.
Open Albumfire mill
The city of Overijse wanted to relocate its administration to one central point. The choice of the building fell on an old milling factory just out of the centre of town. To the renovating architects it was immediatly clear that the industrial heritage was an asset. So the old architecture was incortporated in the redesigning. Concrete and wood were essential elements. Due to its proportions, the building has created an open atmosphere for the public.
Open Albumgrn house
Interaction in green and white. That's the baseline of this house. Architect Karla Menten translates her pure formalistic style in this family house. The ground floor is built around a central closed unit that hides all practical needs. The rest of the open space is one big living area. The stairs lead to bed- and bathrooms.Below ground a doctors' practice has been created, open and light. The house interacts with its' green environment through huge windows and different patio's on various levels.
Open Albumhill house
On a steep slope in the belgian ardennes lies a little house. On one side it faces the woods and has just little windows, thus giving a sheltered feeling. The other side is opened up with one big window an has a magnificent view over the valley. As it functions as vacation home the interior is kept quite basic. However to preserve the view, the living room and kitchen were made on the first floor. On the ground floor are two bedrooms with bathrooms centralized around a sauna.
Open Albumhouse bream
Renaat Bream was one of Belgiums' leading modernist architects. This shell-shaped house was one of his most specific designs. The owners, that occupied this house some years ago, have given it a new elan. Next to the exterior and the green environment, they also fell for the scandinavian feel of the interior. In the back of the garden a new chapter was added. A contrasting pavillion that functions as office space.
Open Albumhouse d&vw
It has an atypical form of a trapezium, this house. The architects borrowed it from the form of the lot. Other destinctive elements are the overwhelming window looking over the openness of the nearby valley and the steel screen on the first floor. This sculptural approach continued inside. Hence, the kitchen and the overall use of white marble.
Open Albumhouse on a socle
This bungalow house stands in open field. From the front the architects have kept the house closed with just some openings. In the back, the open structure gives a full view on the few hills we have in this part of the country and like to call 'mountains'. The house stands on a socle, as it lies in a valley. This prevents flooding due to heavy rain.
Open Albumlock building
This lock building was the result of a public 'Open Oproep' contest, held by the Flemisch Government (one of many in Belgium). The architects of WAW designed a building in corten steel. Lying parallell to the canal, it functions as a central command post for the 11 locks along this canal. The design is based on that of the ships crossing the canal.
Open Albumminimal house
A house and a an old lingerie manufactering space have been annexed into a warm and open home with a swimming pond. This home is really a mix of modern and belgian interbellum architecture. The worthwhile elements were kept, others were replaced with contemporary elements. The contrast with dark and light colours and modern and classic elements works perfectly.
Open Albumnon budget loft
What do you do if your cliënt has a really limited budget? The solution of the architects was simple: pick one main material and create a loft of OSB panels. Subsequently, the owner decorated creatively with family furniture and pieces found here and there, the result of years of collecting.
Open Albumrbk house
This volumed house is the home of an architect's family. It has an open structure and is oriented towards the garden, which harbours a concrete swimming pool. The house is double-sided. At one end you have the architects offices. On the other side the private part. This side is conceived with a lot of wood and warm accents. It had to be family-functional without losing the aesthetical out of sight.
Open Albumrpg loft
It's always a gift if you can keep the industrial feel of a loft. In keeping the brick structure and the original sandstone tiles in some places, the owners felt they have kept that feel. As a counterweight they created a long, white wall of closets.The library shows the passion for photography of the owner. The use of stone in the bathroom, reaffirms the affinity with natural materials.
Open Albumrrr penthouse
In the midst of the few dunes belgian coast has left, lies a less to ordinary appartment building. On top lies a fantastic penthouse with a marvellous view. Inside a classic modern interior was created with a 180° view. Well chosen design furniture and some art (Giacometti is not that far away) completes the frame.
Open Albumsawteeth house
Distinctive and standing out in a flemish rural area is what it does, this house. The form references to the old industrial buildings in the region. However, instead of using traditional bricks, massive black rippled plates were used. The windows in the roof and the use of concrete also references to the industrial architecture. The whole house is kept open, faciltating communication between the whole family. From top to bottom, left to right.
Open Albumstable loft
It's an uncanny sight. In a vast parc in the center of Brussels lies an old school. Completely abandoned over the years, it came to ruins. Some years ago, new life was brought into the complex. One of the buildings was an old stable. This was the first of many lofts to be renovated.
Open Albumtintin loft
In what must probably be the biggest loft project of the last years in Brussels, lies a spacious, 'down to earth' loft. The renovation tried to respect some of the old materials. However, some floors had to be replaced by concrete ones.The architects were to foresee quite a lot of book shelves and cabinet space. For the home office, a mezzanine was created.
Open Albumtransparent house
This two-pavillion house has clearly sought inspiration with Mies Van der Rohe, as the owner is a big fan. The two entities have two functions. One, at the side of a pond, has grouped all functions of daily life. The second entity groups all recreational functions. The master bedroom is combined with the bathroom and a sauna. Outside lies the swimming pool.
Open Albumwhite out
'I like white clean spaces, they have to be open and I don't want to fill them up' said the lady of the house. The architects delivered exactly what she asked. When renovating this city house, they opened up the vertical axis. In doing so, they pulled the light into the house. Outside the house has been covered with silver panels. The swimming pool, gives a chance to the owner to take dip every morning, just before starting his daily practice.
Open Albumwhite sheet
This old storage building was a cancerous stain in quarter full of Art Nouveau houses. The architects felt they had no option than to strip it down and replace it with a straight, geometrical design in white stone. Inside the architects have their office. On the second and top floor they each occupy an appartment.
Open Albumwhite woods willa
In the midst of a shady Antwerp suberb, lies a seventies bungalow/villa. Entirely renovated according to a strict plan and with the use of three materials, everything in black, white and grey. Art breaks the whole thing up with color.
Open Albumxl masterhouse
A very stately house, in a stately neighbourhood of Brussels. This house breathes grandeur. The renovation was kept to its roots. The owners wanted to keep an openness in the house, so they just filled it up with the essentials. This only emphasizes the spaciousness.
Open Album