Contekst have approached their first hospitality project in Knokke-Heist with a focus on sensory experience, framing sea views while weaving bespoke elements throughout the compact interior.
Guided by the theme of transparency, Rumi 01 is a seaview retreat in Knokke-Heist, designed by Contekst with interior architect Toon Martens. This marks the studio’s first venture into hospitality, an exploration of how architecture and atmosphere can intertwine to heighten sensory awareness. Subtle shifts in light, texture, scent, and sound invite guests to notice the sea as a living, ever-changing theatre.
Sleeping up to six guests, Rumi 01 encourages moments of togetherness as much as solo retreat. The design uses a restrained material palette, defined by texture and craftsmanship, with its subtlety most evident on the floor beneath. “The flooring has a subtle texture thanks to its material composition and feels warm underfoot because it’s made from gypsum and clay,” Martens says. The floors were finished in ‘Terrafloor’ by Aardig Gedacht, a blend of natural gypsum and lime applied as plaster. With a gently textured, fine-grained surface, the floors have a tactile quality that anchors the space.
Toon explains that openness was crucial in bringing the concept of transparency to life. “The existing wall between the bathroom and kitchen was removed, creating a visual connection along the full length of the apartment and allowing all functions to benefit from this openness,” he says. This sightline links every room to the sea, from the kitchen to the master bedroom, where even the bathtub was positioned to share in the view, turning daily rituals into quiet acts of observation.
A custom black dining table in black-stained wood anchors the space, balancing the lightness of the adjoining joinery.
The grey walls, finished in a subtle painting technique, diffuse light softly through the apartment.
The floors were finished in Terrafloor by Aardig Gedacht, a blend of natural gypsum and lime applied as plaster.
In a compact space such as this, detail is everything. “The bespoke elements are essential in this project, they make it possible to design and realise all of the above ideas. This simply wouldn’t have been achievable with off-the-shelf choices,” Martens explains.
A cohesive flow of materials and forms defines the atmosphere. “In the master bed and bathroom, the custom bed base, wardrobe, and washbasin unit were designed as one continuous composition,” Martens says. This approach may sound somewhat unconventional, yet it “actually generates an intriguing formal language that again emphasises visual continuity by positioning it along one of the side walls,” he continues. The custom bed base is upholstered with brown carpet, and the cabinets are finished in brown HPL. Layers of veneered maple, lacquered brown metal, and ceramic brick slip tiling create depth and warmth, forming what Martens describes as “an interesting layering effect… evoking a sense of wonder.”
The grey walls softly diffuse light, while Cork panelling by Corkinho in the master bedroom adds natural texture reflecting the coastal setting. The kitchen continues this interconnected design, “with a perpendicular low dining bench connected to the wall-mounted kitchen. The chaining together of custom-built elements is key,” Martens explains.
Lighting, too, plays an architectural role. “We chose small adjustable spotlights from TAL Lighting,” Martens says. However, the compact fixtures presented a challenge, as the wiring could not be easily concealed. “To solve this, we had custom stainless steel tubes made to carry and conceal the cabling. It looks simple, but it actually involved quite a bit of product development,” he adds.
From kitchen to sea, every space stays visually connected to the landscape. The glass partition between the kitchen and bathroom, “featuring a subtle, boat-like cut-out,” Martens says, captures this relationship. It is through the interplay of material, light, and views that Rumi 01 achieves its most authentic sense of retreat.
The custom bed base is upholstered with brown carpet, and the cabinets are finished in brown HPL.
Layers of veneered maple, lacquered brown metal, and ceramic brick slip tiling create depth and warmth, forming what Martens describes as “an interesting layering effect.”
