In the centre of Antwerp, not far from the fashion boutiques, architect Vincent Van Duysen invited us into his refuge, on the top floor of a nineteenth century building. An intimate, multipurpose residence, where the warmth of wood and the northern light take centre place In an elegant street near the centre of Antwerp, the house of architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen stands out with its white plaster and neat rows of windows. We walk across the large living area bathed in natural light and climb the wood stairs to the top floor.
The impact is surprising. “I’ve been living in this building for fifteen years but I left the attic untouched until a short while ago,” he explains. Once the ceiling and dividing walls had been demolished, the open space took on a strong personality, liberating the original wooden beams and the exposed brick walls. We asked the architect to tell us something about the projects he’s working on. “I’m putting the finishing touches to my latest project of a boat, and the showroom that I’ve designed for Poliform is going to open in Manhattan in May”.
What is his relationship with Italy? “I love working in Italy". More recently, my collaborations with Mutina and Flos have stimulated my creativity in various different areas”. He continues to describe his nest, showing us a detail he’s particularly proud of. “Even if you look closely at it, you can’t see that hidden behind the long wall opposite the bed are some surprising facilities”. The attic extends like a large suite. Furnishing it are pieces by Axel Vervoordt and furniture designed by the Van Duysen studio, while an armchair by master craftsman Pierre Jeanneret takes pride of place.
