This Glass Pied-à-Terre Is Hidden in a Belgian Garden
Concealed by historic buildings in the center of Ghent, this light-filled hideaway sits in the backyard of an existing house.
Tucked behind a traditional brick home in a vibrant neighborhood in Ghent, this pied-à-terre by Steven Vandenborre Architecten boasts warm, welcoming interiors and extensive glass walls that take advantage of the property's stunning garden views.
The ground floor follows an L-shaped plan and is accessed from the garden via a concrete terrace.
Tim Van de Velde
Using a European ash frame and large glass surfaces, the architects created an elongated, two-level, grid-like structure, craning all of the construction materials over the existing home onto the site. "Because the location of the extension is surrounded by closed building volume, we could not use traditional building methods," explains the architect.
Timber, glass, and concrete compose the simple exterior of the structure.
Tim Van de Velde
Get the Pro Newsletter
What’s new in the design world? Stay up to date with our essential dispatches for design professionals.
The open-plan living and dining area uses neutral colors and a minimalist material palette.
Tim Van de Velde
Shop the Look
Secto Design Octo 4240 Pendant, Walnut
The Octo lamp, designed by Seppo Koho for Secto Design, has a wooden shade which is hand-made from Finnish birch by highly skilled craftsmen. As the other Secto Design lamps by Seppo Koho, also the Octo lamp is well-known outside Finland as well for its clear Scandinavian feel.
ShopThe light-filled kitchen is centered around a partially timber-clad island that matches the cabinetry.
Tim Van de Velde
Through the use of different levels and heights, the spaces on the first floor have distinct characteristics. The kitchen is conceived as a large, multifunctional space, while the dining room nook features built-in benches and shares a central fireplace with the living area. At the far end of the volume, an existing structure which had been a wartime bunker was attached to the new construction and repurposed as a media room. The second level is home to the private spaces and boasts equally stunning garden views.
The kitchen overlooks the dining and living room.
Tim Van de Velde
A few steps down from the kitchen is the built-in dining area.
Tim Van de Velde
The dining room nook has the feeling of a conversation pit.
Tim Van de Velde
The two-sided fireplace separates the dining room and the living room.
Tim Van de Velde
Neutral, earthy tones and a mix of materials give the living room a warm and cozy vibe.
Tim Van de Velde
Recycled bricks that have been whitewashed play off the stone-colored sectional, tree-stump coffee tables, and leather chairs, while a dynamic work of art injects color and unexpected energy into the space.
Tim Van de Velde
The garden's former wartime bunker has been connected to the property and transformed into a cozy, wood-clad media room.
Tim Van de Velde
The second-floor bedrooms and bathrooms are connected via a central closet.
Tim Van de Velde
Bedroom views.
Tim Van de Velde
At night, the building becomes a light box glowing from within.
Tim Van de Velde
Tim Van de Velde
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Steven Vandenborre Architects
Builder/General Contractor: Hancke
Structural Engineer: Hancke, H110
Interior Design: Steven Vandenborre Architects
Published