The rounded particulars of an art-deco facade are repeated inside this home in Antwerp, which was renovated by Atelier Fréderic Louis.
Belgian architect Fréderic Louis modernized the look of the Mellinet Home, changing the beforehand separate kitchen and lounge with a big, open household room that opens onto the again backyard.
The design – created in collaboration with inside designer Sarah De Pauw – celebrates the constructing’s present curved particulars.
Based on Louis, it was these particulars that first attracted the homeowners to the 145 sq. meter property.
“They purchased the home as a result of they fell in love with the unique artwork deco parts,” he informed Dezeen.
Further curved particulars have been additionally added, together with a brand new fire and two focal staircase steps.
The ambition behind the renovation was to create a extra open plan on the bottom ground, growing pure gentle and making the residing areas seem extra beneficiant in dimension.
Making this fit-out concerned stripping the constructing again to its construction and putting in new steel buildings.
“Our start line was to strive to determine how we may open up the rooms to one another as a result of they have been all closed off from one another by thick load-bearing partitions,” Louis defined.
“The structural parts we used for this have been important to the design of the home as a result of they remained partially seen.”
When the builders started to strip the inside again to its construction, they found hidden particulars reminiscent of a big arched wall body. This fueled Louis’ resolution to make curves the important thing design motif.
The brand new format creates a round route by the bottom ground areas, defining a corridor area, a lounge space, a eating space and a kitchen, whereas a small workplace sits to at least one facet.
Two totally different ground surfaces are proven right here: an oak parquet with a chevron sample and a mottled white terrazzo.
The junction between these surfaces integrates one other curved element.
That is mirrored within the form of the kitchen island high, which is fabricated from a marble that matches the tones of the terrazzo ground.
“The tip of the wall was additionally curved, not solely as a reference to the unique type parts, but additionally to facilitate circulation across the kitchen island and adjoining areas,” stated Louis.
New home windows have been put in rather than the earlier PVC frames, with skinny aluminum detailing that appears extra just like the metal designs that might have been on the constructing initially.
The heating, plumbing and electrical techniques have additionally been upgraded to deliver them as much as fashionable requirements.
Louis, based mostly in Ghent, has been working his personal studio since 2014, but additionally works for Graux & Baeyens Architecten, the place he led initiatives together with the J-VC blocked home.
Casa Mellinet is considered one of a number of traditionally delicate renovations the architect has undertaken. He believes the mission has returned the constructing “to its former glory.”
“The residing areas have advanced from closed, darkish areas to a residing area wealthy in pure gentle with an exquisite view of the inexperienced backyard,” he stated.
“The kitchen grew to become a focus, whereas new and restored artwork deco options restored the unique really feel of the home.”
Pictures is by Tim Van de Velde.