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Describe the client and the program.
We build this house for ourselves, Britt Crepain & Stefan Spaens (previously CSO ontwerpers, currently CSD Architecten )
How does the design respond to the context?
A very small plot of land (4x15m / built 4x12.5m) in a narrow street in the Center of Antwerp, rear facade facing south. The design responds by opening up both facades to the maximum, split-levels and a void with a roof of glass on top. 3 levels house the main living areas bureau/library/kitchen/dining, and the highest split-level is the sitting room with open fire and views of the city and the sky. From there, you can access the roof-terrace (also split-leveled) with views over the entire city.
In total, the house has a basement, ground floor and 4 levels. The split-levels bring the light from the south through the house. A lot more than with a normal (or standard) racking of floors that most houses have. Sunlight comes through everywhere, especially in wintertime when the sun is low (ecologically, we benefit from a south facade in winter, in summer we can open op top windows and create a natural ventilation through the void and the opening to the roof-terrace. Currently it's snowing, and the top level is almost like an igloo with the open fire and snow that lays on the glazed inclined windows.
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
Describe the choice of materials for this project.
We chose all materials as natural as possible, colors flowing into each other, to create an otherwise monolithic character. Inspiration for the color pallet was found on a beach in France (driftwood, pebbles, the color of the sand).
What is the footprint of the house? How many floors?
Footprint: 50 sqm (outer wall), 47 sqm (inner wall). Where split-leveled: front = 27 sqm (void stairs/elevator, 4 levels), rear: 16 sqm ).
Levels: 6 and a half. Level -1: basement/storage; level 0: ground floor = polyvalent for bureau/commercial or as it is now 'carport', washing room and extra storage behind a curtain; level 0.5: vestiaire; level 1: front = main bedroom/master bathroom; rear = second bedroom + show room; level 2: front = bureau; rear = hobby + guest room; level 3: front = kitchen; rear = dining; level 4: sitting room around open fire and access to first roof terrace; level 5: main roof terrace
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
Did you design any of the furniture or fittings for the house?
Britt Crepain designed all the furniture, completely integrated (functional and esthetically) in the architecture that Britt & Stefan both designed. Some of the fittings (for example the glazed doors) are also designed by her. The rest of the fittings are carefully selected.
Is there anything interesting about this project that is not evident in these photos?
The change of the colors by the sunlight that you cannot capture on photo (only on video), the warmth of the house, the igloo, the silence on the top floor and roof terrace, our favorite spots to sit, and the angle of view that you have from there.
In short: the actual and always changing atmosphere (but to capture this, you have to live here for a while).
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
↑ Click image to enlarge
Photo: Luc Roymans Photography
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License .
/Creative Commons License
13 Comments
Generic modern? Thank you for the night shots....might have actually seen the elevation!! The knoll office chair is beautiful as always.
Beautiful, simple and refreshing. Even humble.
Very nice :-)
wow, i'm kind of in love with that hidden bathroom on the 3rd level.
This is actually very nice work. Congratulations.
This is actually very nice work. Congratulations.
Commendable achievement given the narrowness of the plot. Sophisticated use of masterials.
A few criticisms;
1 Lift only accesses half the levels.
2 Angled facade towards the street is not necessary, and I think it looks better flat. I'm sire having it angled cost more and looks clumsier. Is it addressing a view, or just poking out of the street facade?
3 Having split levels and then having a void like that means every journey requires navigating some steps . . . dunno if I can live with that! I would have had through floors at all levels and added a clear glass floor at every level where the void is to enable the communication between the two sides, that way you get the light, without too many levels, unless the level splitting is not solely to deal with the site constraints, but also to enable visual communications between more than one level simulatenously, and if that were the case I retract my comment.
4 Stair case has no gaurding rail on the flight against the wall, it may look good in photo, but it is terrifying to use!
Fact of the matter is, this is a delightful piece of architecture!
no sustainability.
Antwerp, cold. vacation home for non-winter seasons?
sharp edge concrete stairs, when your drunk, fall and kill?
i love the coldness though
Great staircase, concrete treatment, natural light and photography. Looks like a really enjoyable place to live.
Yeah sure looks attractive and has a nice finish too. But to me, it just looks so much work to live here. Running up and down the stairs all the time as the program seems in no particular order. In my opinion it would be more sensible to keep the lower part of the building more "public", and become more private as you rise. I think this alone would eliminate much of the neccesarry stair-trotting. But with that bedroom on the 1st floor everything just seems a bit scatered.
But the spatial feel sure is nice!
Best Regards,
Alexander
well done - good work
I agree with Cubeva. I'd add that the stair to the operable skylight is lovely. Escape claustrophobia!
I do like the openness of the facades and the overall exterior.
As I look to the pictures all I see are stairs. I think the half level idea actually takes a lot from the design. The space is small to begin with and the split level makes it look even smaller and discontinued. I think that split level still can be used but just with half a meter difference.
I know is hard to handle all the obstacles coming with small spaces and that everybody has different preferences.
Excellent. I love the clinical, sterile, no kid zoneness atmosphere here. A great place to relax with a Kubrick movie, and a vodka and tonic.
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