‘living in the woods’

The site, formerly characterized by an archetypal chalet acting as a holiday home, is situated in the woods of Aalter (Belgium). In order to keep this holiday feeling it was decided to preserve the existing chalet volume and to let it expand in a rhythm of roofs, again executed in a wooden cladding. Parallel to the street, a golden façade is created, perpendicular to the residential volume, as a entrance area for the residents and their guests. The same golden accents are repeated in the exterior and interior. They form a warm natural touch within the green context.

The living areas, a succession of sitting area, dining room and kitchen, form a 'belvedere' on the surrounding fauna and flora. The bedrooms are located at the rear, facing the more intimate garden areas, with the bathroom and sauna area in between, which again opens up to the garden.

The extension is formed as a steel structure, enabling to creat a very open architecture to the landscape with a minimal of columns or walls. Hidden behind the plaster wall finishings. The golden canvas windows highlight the beautiful natural forest environment and maximum open views. The plan lay-out is partially created as a result to maintain the existing oak trees on the plot.

This single family house includes 3 bedrooms, bathroom, sauna, living area, kitchen, pantry, basement, office area, etc. The void between the kitchen and the office area creates a fascinating interaction. The centrally positioned kitchen with spacious cooking island forms the heart of the house.

The Corbusier colors were used to bring the right accents in the interior, in dialogue with the black wooden flooring and clear white wall and ceiling finishing. Blue Outremer is used troughout the house, not only for the switches in the night area, but even for the structural columns, the stairs and the Togo Sofa (Ligne Roset) in the living area, as for the faucets. Ombre Natural (greyish brown) is used the color the whole bathroom: wall, floor, ceiling, as it flooded with daylight and large views on the forest garden.