ARCHILETTERS

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 4×12.5m) 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.

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

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).