Brussels’ strong industrial heritage lends itself well to the formation of homes in former warehouses.
This particular property was once a factory, and it has since been converted into a spacious loft that is bathed in natural light. It’s the perfect place to show off a collection of cult design pieces and objects from the 1960s, alongside a bold and eclectic collection of contemporary artworks. Scroll through the gallery below (Photography: Serge Anton | Living Inside) to enjoy the stunning interiors:
The loft is home to a Belgian businessman, his wife and their two children. They had lived in Paris and New York before this – both cities that proudly show the remnants of their industrial heritage – and when they returned to Belgium, he moved to a house on the green outskirts of Brussels.
“I quickly got tired of the quiet and bucolic atmosphere there,” he says. “I needed to recapture the effervescence of the urban and cosmopolitan city centre, and even feel the pollution.” When he found this loft space, he knew it was the perfect counter to the suburban life he and his family had been living.
Located in one of the liveliest districts in the city, the building is home to several offices, an artist’s studio, and another loft space that’s occupied by a friend of the owner. The businessman’s loft is spread over two floors, and it initially needed considerable renovations in order for it to meet the functional requirements of a modern lifestyle.
The huge glass roof that covered the ground floor was removed and replaced with three concrete slabs covering the dining area, the living room and the master bedroom.
“In order to preserve the building’s original raw style, we chose a gray ash coloured concrete floor with a natural patina, and we installed an underfloor heating system,” says the homeowner. “We painted the ceilings and walls white, in order to emphasise the breadth of the available volumes and enhance the light that characterises the place.”
The kitchen serves as the interface between the living and dining areas. It is located in a space that was previously used as offices by engineers back in the building’s factory days. Traces of the past still remain, such as the wooden beams that punctuate the ceiling. Adding a touch of classicism to the space is a 19th-century French sideboard, purchased through Karel Van Beek’s Antiques & Design. The two kitchen islands are clad in black wood and finished with slate countertops; these are lit by enamelled steel suspension lights and they offer a double workspace that incorporates hobs and a sink.
The homeowners are passionate about design and contemporary art, and this building was the perfect place in which to let their creativity run riot. The home is dotted with bold, colourful artworks, and there is even a Tintin statue.
The result is a bright, fun and modern home – one that contradicts its humble, factory beginnings.
