House G-S | Graux & Baeyens Architecten

This 19th century corner house is located at the Muide waterfront area with a unique view on the old city harbor docks of Ghent, Belgium. The project started by stripping the dilapidated house of all excess. The essence was conserved by means of the façade, the stairwell and the roof truss, each of them serving as a rough coat to envelop the new spaces. The rooms and living spaces are conceived as a stack of volumes, a white sculpture inserted in the existing casing. Several strategically located cutouts offer a variety of well-defined views. Inside the house, this approach brings contrast to each level, interplaying the original and new elements. Contrast is enhanced by the colours and textures of the selected material. The living functions are inverted with respect to a conventional terraced house. This means that the bedrooms are located on the ground floor, the lounge can be found on the first floor and the kitchen, dining room occupy the top floor with an adjacent enclosed patio. The architects have aimed to create a symbiosis between contemporary residential living and the charm of a 19th century Belgian corner house.