Text by B-Bis Architecten
This luxurious villa was built on the flank of a hill in Overijse, in the Brussels periphery in Belgium. The architect’s house from 1974 got a thorough facelift by B-Bis Architecten, without touching its soul.
The covered swimming pool, which was added later, has been removed. In its place came a pool house with an elongated outdoor swimming pool that connects better to the house and allows more daylight into the living room. This new addition blends in perfectly with the original architecture. The village-like setting was given a new finishing by a detached wall that blends into the landscape.
All of this was achieved, and more. The building site was surrounded by forest and clusters of live oak trees, which provided a perfect backdrop for the indoor/outdoor connection. A central courtyard and pool provided a perfect place to entertain outdoors, with wall to ceiling windows allowing for maximum light exposure.
The interior spaces are separated from the living room by a large sliding glass wall. Opposite the courtyard, the large window walls allow forest views to the north. The entire spatial composition of the home supports the solar orientation of the pool, pool deck, and natural daylighting within the living, dining, and kitchen spaces.
Inside, bathrooms and kitchens were replaced using high-quality, natural materials. In one of the bathrooms, a wall was broken down in order to make full use of its new layout.
The house was provided with new custom-made furniture such as dressings, a bed and also the seating well was replaced entirely. Original furnishings such as the panelled ceilings, marble and wooden floors were restored to their original grandeur. The carpet, which was frequently present in the original state of the house, was reintroduced in the night area. Finally, the lighting and curtains were renewed everywhere.
Photos via B-Bis Architecten
