D-Hotel | Govaert & Vanhoutte Architects

Extension and reconversion of an existing farm and mill site into a hotel.

A formation of three concrete volumes gather around a U-shaped farm building and a protected renovated windmill. The old and new entities have no direct contact above the surface, though underground there is a tunnel underneath the old farm, forming the base of the concept. Starting from the hotel reception, the tunnel disappears under the inner square through a contemporary glass volume.
Elevated from ground level, another volume on the corner of the site, is orientated on the base of the mill. The simplicity of the composition of these volumes improve the overall clear view on the site, while keeping a strong interaction between mill and farm.
The spatial perception of the hotel is a diverse walk-through around the mill. The divergent hotel functions, such as bath, lounge, wellness, fitness, party hall, hotel rooms,…, blends in harmoniously with its surroundings. The input of all disciplines related to design (art, nature, film, music) are expressed through specific theme rooms.
The contemporary reconversion rehabilitates the original mill site. The mill’s dominant role in its context, is respected by the input of a modern architecture.
Nowadays, the mill guards over an interesting story again.