Le Coin du Diable

ENG - This project was designed by the collective Hylé Architecture, that has renovated the interior of this former bar-cafe into a compact stark apartment where raw concrete surfaces dominates. The apartment is located in the downtown of Brussels, closed to Rue Antoine Dansaert and 5min walk from the Grand Place. The red brick building built in 1836 is full of history and was used in its time for the manufacturing of local beer: "Bière de la Senne". Now the brewery has closed, and several lofts has risen within the red brick.

Romina Dargention of Hylé Architecture was asked to redesign the interior to suit the lifestyle of a resident who has a passion for raw materials and technology: " The concrete was a request from the client,he loves concrete, iron and glass."

Located in ground floor, the flat allowed to use massive pieces of architecture based on concrete. All concrete pieces has been built on-site, wood mould has been used for crafting. The bar itself required 500kg of materials.

The resident requested an apartment with clearly defined zones for socializing, as well as an area to retreat to for privacy. In response, Hylé architecture created an open plan kitchen largely open to the street: " We wanted to keep the cafe-bar memory of the area, so we kept the shop window. We aimed at making it feel both like an indoor space, but at the same time thanks tothe large window, in a continuum with the outside.", Romina Dargenton.

On the other side of the apartement, the room space is open to a private patio. It brings light and freshness to a space where concrete and glass structure dominates.