Both spectacular and understated, this house features serene living spaces that have a special connection to nature.
Belgian architect Dirk Heveraet creates modernist spaces that are as refined in their simplicity as they expressive in their tranquility. This villa, built on the outskirts of the city of Ghent, Belgium, is no exception. While close to the bustling urban setting, the house is actually nestled in a quiet residential area right next to farmland and a beautiful natural landscape. The lush surroundings informed the final design, along with the clients’ desire for privacy. Minimalist and understated, the house is barely visible from the street. However, it opens completely to the landscape at the rear via floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors.
The architect built the house on the foundation of a demolished dwelling. While narrow towards the street, the site opens up on the opposite side in a large trapezoid area with mature trees, meadows, and a pond. The building has rectangular forms and cubic volumes with light gray plaster walls. Both the timelessness and the simplicity of the design provide balance to the substantial size of this sprawling house that contains six bedrooms with their own bathroom, a library, a home office, a children’s play area, and a relaxing wing with an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, and a hammam. An adjacent guesthouse extends the living spaces further.
An exceptional attention to detail.
High-end materials bring an Art Deco feel to the modernist architecture. Every detail is perfectly designed. An impressive, dual 3-meter door made of oxidized bronze leads to the living spaces. Both the main home and the guesthouse feature an oxidized brown copper roof. While the front windows feature African hardwood frames, the ones at the back boast minimal drank bronze aluminum frames. Tuscan limestone and bleached French oak line the floors while teak wood furniture and doors create a thread of warmth throughout the interior.
Closely connected to the lush site, the villa features an indoor swimming pool with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to the garden and pond. The use of glass makes this area feel completely immersed in nature. At the same time, it offers the privacy that an outdoor pool simply can’t provide. Dirk Heveraet collaborated on the interior design with Daphne Daskal and Stephanie Laperre of Studio Daskal Laperre. Photography© Dirk Heveraet.
