Southern Modernism in the Green Belt Around Brussels - Lennik, Belgium

DS magazine text Eva Van den Eynde, photos by Lisa Van Damme / Griet Dekoninck

What was once a bungalow hinting at modernism is now a contemporary interpretation of a classic villa. Those who notice the influences of architect Richard Neutra are observant. Natural materials like brick and wood counterbalance the clean lines and Trespa facade cladding.

Old Bungalow

Winding narrow streets, sunken roads, and hills that reveal another beautiful view around each corner: this must be the green belt around Brussels. The clients were right when they instinctively bought an old bungalow from a deceased aunt a few years ago. They weren’t sure what they would do with it at the time, perhaps they would live there someday. That “someday” came sooner than expected, and today, the clients enjoy their renovated villa with all the trimmings. It all started with a modest plan: the house went up for sale, and the clients saw potential in it. They decided to renovate it for rental purposes. However, this plan changed after involving the architects from CASTORFIBER architecture studio. “A carpenter friend had taken me to check out the project,” says the architect. “It turned out to be a bungalow, built in the late 1960s by an architecture student as his graduation project. It resembled the modernist villas of that time, but unfortunately, the attempt wasn’t entirely successful.”Moreover, the previous residents weren’t fans of modernism, which resulted in a stylistic disconnect between the exterior and interior. The interior was more in a farmhouse style.

Californian Modernism

The architect and his team initially devised a simple renovation plan, which involved knocking down a few walls. “But when you remove walls, you have to replace the floors as well,” says the architect. “And when we saw the roof was oddly constructed, we realized the renovation would have to be more extensive.”A deeper renovation meant higher costs, and soon it became clear that renting out the property would no longer be profitable.In the meantime, the architect introduced the clients, who hadn’t been particularly interested in architecture until, then to the world of modernism, specifically its Californian variant. “During the world wars, many European modernist architects relocated to California, where they further developed the style,” the architect explains. This sunny, optimistic architecture became an inspiration for the master plan. Enthused by the architect’s passion, the clients decided they were ready to move to Lennik themselves. Their condition was that the house should be user-friendly, comfortable, and finished to perfection. “The clients had always lived in an old farmhouse where the spaces had grown organically. It had its charm, but it was highly impractical,” says the architect.“The foundation of a pleasant home is that everything is well thought out, with clear lines of sight and logical layout.”

Comfort and Convenience

The clients also wanted to future-proof the house, requesting the architect to keep the main functions on the ground floor. A suite was designed on the ground floor, including a bathroom, dressing room, and bedroom. One of the clients also requested a large storage area connected to the kitchen with a service entrance from the terrace at the back.The living room and kitchen form an open space that receives light from all sides and visually extends into the garden, using materials that flow from the inside out. “And vice versa. The brick used for the facade reappears inside as an interior element. This strengthens the relationship between the house and the beautiful landscape.”
The former front terrace, which was never used, was integrated into the living space. “To avoid distracting seams, we used structural glazing, which allows us to work without frames and create maximum transparency.”

Wooden Structure Addition

The former bungalow also gained an upper floor. “We added an extra layer of reinforced concrete on the flat roof and then built a wooden structure on top to keep the weight as low as possible.”
This floor is used by the couple’s children, who occasionally stay there with their families. They enjoy all the comforts, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a relaxation area, a kitchenette, and an extensive south-facing sun terrace. Just like the ground floor, wood is used abundantly to prevent the house from feeling too cold. “That’s why we opted for many natural materials, which we used in a contemporary way,” says the architect. “For example, the bricks—classical in nature—were placed in a random pattern and glued, combined with sleek white Trespa panels on the exterior facade, giving the whole a fresh look.”