Brussels – Loftenberg

Modern Loft from a Brussels Warehouse

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:20:53 +0000

A former warehouse was transformed into this modern loft in Brussels, Belgium by SHSH architects. The goal was to create an experience of colors and textures – on a limited budget. The concept revolved around the loft as ‘the ocean’ and constructed elements (kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom) as ‘the islands’.

The space of the loft reminds you of an ocean. The functions are, when necessary, enclosed in volumes floating on it. With no corridors and a minimum of partitions, there is only a vast space where three island-like volumes are planned: the bedrooms, the kitchen and the sanitary facilities.

These three functional islands have all different textures and colors. The volumes are placed against the walls leaving a large open space next to the existing South-East face windows.

“Inspiration came from random but meaningful sources; an automated conveyor in steel – a pine structure – the color of Shin’s sweater.”

On the bedrooms volume, walls are finished with wooden materials, with bookshelves and closets on the sides. The children’s bedrooms are closed tightly for optimal acoustic requirements. The adult’s bedroom is closed by steel-framed sliding doors in order to take natural light from the workspace.

In the second volume, the walls of the kitchen and laundry room are in Matsuba-iro, a dull green color like the leaves of a pine tree. In the kitchen, the central island is situated at the edge of the raised floor, allowing the family to use it as a bar from the dining room. The kitchen has been designed as an open element without doors or walls, showing the utensils arranged on sliding trays. All hardware has been carefully chosen to provide an industrial appearance, fine and simple.

Finally, the sanitary block includes a separated toilet, a technical room and a bathroom, all in Benihi-iro, a red scarlet tone. In an industrial building with no sound insulation, a rubber floor material of 16 mm was chosen to prevent the spread of noise between floors. The floors are raised only where necessary for sanitary and electrical installations.

Modern Castle

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:50:07 +0000

When we think of castles, the last adjective that comes to mind is ‘modern’, but that’s just what this castle is, modern. Very. Construction of the Villa Diricks, located in Brussels, was completed in 1933. Its architect was Marcel Leborgne, “one of the founders of Modernism in Belgium”.

In a state of disrepair, it was purchased a few years ago by a developer and renovated.

The renovation took two years to complete as Cambron wanted to make this jewel of modernism once again habitable, fully fitted and decorated for a new owner.

Four bathrooms were added (there was only one bathroom in the original building!), as well as an indoor swimming pool and an elevator.

The 10,700 square-foot villa sits on a 5 acres lot, has 4,300 square feet of terrace and isÂ for saleÂ at the time of writing, for an undisclosed price…

White Warehouse Loft

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:55:48 +0000

When you’re a designer, decorating your home should be easier, right? Johanne Riss apparently had made herself a great home. Maybe you can catch some of her tricks to your own home. As Joanna took over the old warehouse in Brussels in 1989, she laid out to give the whole building a uniform white paint. Walls, ceilings and floors in the 1,500 square feet spread over four floors are now painted white with lots of windows.

There are high ceilings in every sense, and creativity knows no bounds: Furniture in Johanne’s home is both relaxed and very, very grand at the same time. She had managed to create homely atmosphere – among other things – by placing many pictures directly on the floor. Stacks of pillows or cushions to sit on is a simple solution that looks great. Here Johanna nonchalantly tossed a blanket on top of the pile with leather cushions of her own design.

Furniture on wheels, screens in metal used as room dividers and 10 of the same kind of tables put together to form one long dinner table depending on your needs each day all contribute to this unique loft.

I love that my stuff can alter expression from day to day. Then I also used my home much more

says Johanna, who is a fashion designer and has furnished the basement and the ground floor as her workroom and showroom.

The coffee table in the foreground isÂ designed byJohanne from old wood and tiles from the Paris Metro.

The pictures are by Arie Mandelbaum and his son, Stephane Mandelbaum.

Stable conversion

admin — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:29:37 +0000

Another day, another white loft. It says itâ€s time to loosen up the definition of â€œloftâ€ – a home does not necessarily need to be located in a city to have the elements of loft living, especially with conversions. Case in point: Check out this awesome stable-turned-live/work space from Brussels. Not many details are known, but here is the description of the space from the photographer Ocvirk Kus Danicaâ€s profile on OWIâ€s website:

â€œA former stable house has been converted into a photography studio, office space and living area on the top floor.â€

What makes the space so great are the original elements of the structure that have been simplified with white paint and concrete. They have used the stalls as rooms, keeping the main area open save a long dining table, chandelier, and swing. And how about that oh-so-stunning circular window that serves as an anchor for the space. The benefits of practicing restraint (notice not one thing is hung on the wall) are perfecting exemplified here, where the uniqueness of the building takes center stage.