Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen’s Low Countries home is perfectly balanced
A monolithic and modernist house clad in Grandina limestone near Ghent creates a tranquil atmosphere

Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Thank you for signing up to Wallpaper. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
A drive through the Flemish countryside makes a couple of things very clear. Firstly, the term ‘countryside’ is a bit of a stretch; rapid urbanisation in many formerly rural areas of Flanders has resulted in an increasing division of land into parcels. Secondly, despite the first-glance diversity in residential structures, a definite vernacular regularity soon becomes clear.
Colloquially called ‘fermette-style’, this is a traditional housing type that copies the features of farms past: there’s rusty brown brick, gable roofs laid with clay tiles, and stepped dormer windows. Within this distinctly Flemish context, Vincent Van Duysen’s most recently completed residential project manages both to surprise and feel oddly at home.
During the half-hour drive from Ghent to the small village where the house is located, the landscape morphs from bustling city to ribbon development, and finally into stretches of fields, farms and detached houses interspersed among cobblestone streets. In these picturesque environs, Van Duysen’s tectonic composition of natural white stone appears confidently, yet unobtrusively by the roadside, peeking over a relatively low sliding gate. Made up of various structural volumes, the residence is modernist in its monolithic nature. There’s no visual distinction between the outer walls and the roofs, and there’s no unnecessary ornamentation, either inside or out. In all its simplicity, the residence complements and enhances the flatness of the landscape around it.
The house is clad in Gradina limestone from Istria, Croatia, which has been brushed and sand-blasted
‘It’s not a bombastic design; it’s not overly vertical,’ explains Van Duysen. ‘The clients spend a lot of time abroad and travel widely. They came to us asking for a home that’s not typically Belgian, but rather closer in feel to the far-flung destinations they frequent.’ In consultation with the client, Van Duysen settled on a white tone of natural stone for the cladding, and decided to use the roofs’ subtle pitch as a playful reference to the Flemish countryside’s traditional gabled versions.
‘With life’s natural rhythms in mind, we’ve positioned large parts toward the west and placed apertures to face the expansive rural garden,’ he says. Van Duysen’s design also had to accommodate local building regulations that prescribe pitch. ‘In Belgium, a single roof with a 45-degree angle is very typical. We chose to interpret this loosely; the volumes are not symmetrical, which leads to the views outside and the inside axes becoming more interesting.’
As a result, the residence feels airy – a perfect place for rest. When it comes to the interior, that tranquil feel is maintained through the architect’s signature minimal aesthetic. ‘The owners don’t have the need to fill their walls with art,’ says Van Duysen. ‘They prefer a harmonious blank canvas inside as well as out.’
Interestingly, the residence does not have a traditional circulation plan; there’s a lack of hallways. Each spacious room flows straight into the next. Upon entering on the ground level, the kitchen and the office space are immediately to the right, the living room to the left. Apart from a low-slung, sand-coloured Living Divani sofa and a mossy green Martin Eisler chair, the home largely features sparsely placed custom-made furniture by Van Duysen and his team.
Made of solid black walnut, these sculptural pieces are a tribute to George Nakashima, the innovative 20th-century Japanese-American furniture maker. ‘The craftsmanship of those pieces is of huge importance – they have a pristine finish,’ says Van Duysen.
On the upper level, the master bedroom with replace and a magnificent window can be reached through a sizeable anteroom, which functions as a walk-in closet and leads to the master bathroom. Like the rest of the project, a minimalist terrace – sheltered from the wind and also clad in natural stone – provides a calming effect. A water feature next to the living space leads towards a swimming pool and a natural stone-clad poolhouse, which has a kitchenette and shower. A garden pavilion a few steps away houses a large dining table and a collection of ne wines.
From this vantage point, the residence seems like a cubist apparition within the green grass around it, at once rational and real, and refreshingly novel. ‘Through the use of a limited range of natural materials, the house has a seamless feel,’ says Van Duysen. ‘It’s become a gentle and disarming home.’
As originally featured in the October 2019 issue of Wallpaper* (W*247)
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
Artist Hajime Sorayama designs unique helmet for Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton takes to the Formula One track in a unique helmet designed by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
'Emerging Ecologies' at MoMA explores the history of the 'green’ movement
'Emerging Ecologies' opens at MoMA in New York, curated by Ambasz Institute director Carson Chan and seeking the meaning of building 'green'
By Beatrice Galilee Published
-
Tiwa Select opens permanent Tribeca home with a show of new works in Murano glass
Tiwa Select celebrates its permanent New York gallery space with an exhibition of new works by Dana Arbib (until 17 October 2023)
By Pei-Ru Keh Published
-
The finest brutalist architecture in London and beyond
For some of the world's finest brutalist architecture in London and beyond, scroll below. Can’t get enough of brutalism? Neither can we.
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Modernist architecture: inspiration from across the globe
Modernist architecture has had a tremendous influence on today’s built environment, making these midcentury marvels some of the most closely studied 20th-century buildings; check back soon for new additions to our list
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Minimalist architecture: homes that inspire calm
These examples of minimalist architecture place life in the foreground – clutter is demoted; joy promoted
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
The iconic British house: key examples explored
New book ‘The Iconic British House’ by Dominic Bradbury explores the country’s best residential examples since 1900
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Loyle Carner’s Reading Festival 2023 stage presents spatial storytelling at its finest
We talk to Loyle Carner and The Unlimited Dreams Company (UDC) about the musical artist’s stage set design for Reading Festival 2023
By Teshome Douglas-Campbell Published
-
The Leaf is a feat of engineering and an ode to the Canadian Prairies
The Leaf in Winnipeg, Canada, is the first interactive horticultural attraction of its kind: a garden and greenhouse complex promoting a better understanding of how people can connect with plants
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Behind the V&A East Museum’s pleated façade
Behind the new V&A East Museum’s intricate façade is a space for the imagination to unfold
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Casa Monoculo offers a take on treetop living in Brazil
Casa Monoculo by architect Alan Chu is a house raised above the treetops in Alto Paraiso City, Brazil
By Ellie Stathaki Published