‘Maison de Maître’ in Ghent dates back to late 19th Century. Throughout the years, the house had suffered from poor maintenance, but luckily many of it’s original features survived. Hans Verstuyft Architecten restored the house in 2013, effortlessly marrying heritage with minimalism and modernity. The rear building was completely deteriorated and almost lost, so the architects set out to rebuild this space into a living/ dining area. The former ‘coach house’ has been transformed into a spacious kitchen, with it’s old entrance acting as a large hallway. Two steel glazed extensions were added, allowing for a seamless transition between the different volumes of the house.
A small porch and a dining room, bringing the garden all the way inside – in fact, with all that glazing, the dining room almost feels like a green house. The entire house was given it’s soul back, with careful attention paid to the restoration of the original features, with a seamless transition into the new. The new additions such as the timber flooring and the oak ceiling were custom designed by the architect, appearing as though they’ve been a part of the house the entire time. The interior was developed to feel calm, sober and minimalist, with new elements based on what once might have been. Wherever possible, old paint layers were polished and maintained, giving the old patina the chance to come to life.
