Tim Van de Velde Photography features

villa roces

A radical horizontal volume in the woods around Bruges.Oblong in size.The use of materials like wood and concrete and glass makes it very tactile.Thanks to the overall high windows and the void created underground, light is in abundance pulled into the house.'Piece de resistance' is the 'underground' open swimming pool that 'touches' the master bed- and bathroom.

city hall harelbeke

The architects were commissioned to build a new entrance building between the two existing buildings of the Town Hall.In this typical Belgian situation, with two heavy used roads trough the city centre, the architects chose to create a landmark.In using Corian panels as a facade cladding material the architects achieved a full white outdoor facade.Thus accentuating the monolith character of the building. In Belgium it is the first application of Corian outdoor.

clx house

Creating rectangualar houses is an art as such. All too often these houses can not overcome banality. This one is an exception. Simple and monolithic on first sight. But whilst wandering through the house it unveils its unusual architecture. But not only the architecture is relevant. The owners have a great taste for furniture and some nice art.

hotel suburbia

A house renovated in a suburban area in Kortrijk.This house lies in the midst of a very typical and nice street in 60's style architecture that has now a protected cultural status.The architect kept the whole 'body' of the house. But stripped the inside.Because they love the atmosphere of hotel rooms, the architects tried to incorporate this feeling in their home without losing the home-like touch.

krr penthouse

A penthouse was created on the top of an interbellum appartment building in the centre of Antwerp.This volume is the office of a couple architects.The penthouse stands in connection with their renovated appartment one storey below.The contrast between old and new works very nice.

schuurbain

I was struck with instant charm, when I first saw Schuurbain by Atelier Vans-Vanbelle. This barn is pure genius in its simpleness. Belgian countryside is full of traditional or selfmade sheds and barns. Their uglyness is part of our national heritage. This one stands out, although the basic form is left traditional. The architects succeeded in designing a nice and aeshtetic barn with basic materials. Wood, hay, concrete.

atelier ll

Basic idea for this poolhouse was to give the owners a constant feeling of vacation. Being very preoccupied with their job, there is not much time left for a foreign holiday. So this poolhouse and pool had to give a contstant feel of vacation on nice summer days.So the architect met with the three initial demands: It had to be in concrete, it had to give space to the Porsche passion of the owner and once at the pool, the family had to have the impression to be in more a more exotic place than suburban Kortrijk, Belgium.

bilt

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.

trench bridge

I got fascinated this project.The project is one by dutch architects Ro&Ad architects, called 'Trench Bridge'. ('Loopgraafbrug' in dutch) or also 'Mozes Bridge'For this project they had to create a solution to get people across the water of a historical 17th century fortress defence construction.The solution was quite original and simple in its 'cradle to cradle' philosophy.

concrete poolhouse

Basic idea for this poolhouse was to give the owners a constant feeling of vacation. Being very preoccupied with their job, there is not much time left for a foreign holiday. So this poolhouse and pool had to give a contstant feel of vacation on nice summer days.So the architect met with the three initial demands: It had to be in concrete, it had to give space to the Porsche passion of the owner and once at the pool, the family had to have the impression to be in more a more exotic place than suburban Kortrijk, Belgium.

saint rita

A modernist classic of Belgian architecture. This church is a design of architects Léon Stynen & Paul Demeyer. It was an example of 'subtle brutalism' and was intended as a hommage to Le Corbusier. A 'tent for God in the midst of his people' according to Stynen.

stam ghent

Ghent is already working for some years on a city revival. One element was the city museum, STAM. This museum tells the story of Ghent in all its diversity. The museum is located on the 'Bijlokesite'. This site has, and still is, a site where cultural, artistic and educational instances are grouped together. The main entrance building, with café, is a whole new contruction, but the greater part of the museum is located in the old coventry next to it.

house 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.

k residence

In the midst of a vast domain in Brussels, an old stable house has been completely transformed into a spacious home. It has been extended with a black wooden volume.An open house with high quality finishing, nice furniture and fine artwork. A lot of attention was given to the uniform style but especially the living room, kitchen and bathroom are worthwhile.

lpr house

An atypical belgian city house. The most of the front facade is kept closed, but as it functions as a false wall light still kan come from above. In the back, light is let in by big windows.On the outside, the use of dark materials and the straight lining contrasts with the rest of the houses in the street.On the interior side everything is kept straightlined and white.Marble is one of the main materials, but the wooden furniture gives a warm touch to the house.

house vhl

On first sight, this house does not stand out of the rest of the street. It is inside that the real renovation story begins. The architect/owner transformed the dark house into a luminous environment. The renovation was soft and tasteful with a lot of use of wood.It is a nice balance between classic and modern elements. But the architect is not constrained to designing houses. He designs his own furniture and even yachts.

mdvl house

In the centre of this historic town, a family already lived in this 16th century house. It became a little worn out and a renovation was neccessary. On the inside the architect got bold and opted for a quite radical renovation. Unusual door openings, a 'mirror shed' fot their bikes, and a white steel staircase were the main elements. Added with some design furniture, the interior contrasts with the outside.

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.

petrol

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.

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.

tyne 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.

waterfront loft

Nearby the Kortrijk canal lies this nice loft. This old textile factory was completely renovated into lofts. This one loft jumps out, due to the full height windows and the smart use of the existing space. The basic compartimentation was mostly preserved. Inside, the pure and clean lines of the architectural design are combined with the combination of vintage furniture, second hand finds and the love for car racing of the owner.

dansk pavillon

Impressions of the Danish pavillion by BIG at the World Expo in Shanghai China.

eye 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.

hidden-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.

house 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.

house 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.

mondriaan house

Several local awards it has already won, this house. Praised for its sustainability in the first place. But the ecological aspect is not the only asset. The architect created a specific form of lines and colours.

rocket 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.

loft 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.

wolverhampton 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.

fiat 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.

house 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.

apartment 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.

apartment 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.

apartment 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.

bird'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.

black 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.

black 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.

brickyard

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.

station 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.

casbagrafica

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.

cinematek

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.

cub'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.

duikklok

This pavillion has been built in a park in Tilburg that was surrounded by very different buildings. By designing this two-appartment building, the architects wanted to create a conductor between these different buildings. It stands as a beacon within. The two appartments have different panoramic views over the park and city. Playing with circular and rectangular forms gives the brick building a very heterogenous form.

fire 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.

grn 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.

hill 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.

house 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.

house 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.

house 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.

lock 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.

loft bc

In the Brussels canal zone, this five headed family found its home in a big basic loft. The architects subdived this space in 'zones'. The low budget has been bent over into a creative and open design.

minimal 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.

non 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.

rbk 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.

rpg 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.

rrr 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.

sawteeth 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.

stable 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.

tintin 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.

transparent 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.

white 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.

white 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.

white 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.

xl 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.