Bathed in soft light and layered in muted tones, this renovated Antwerp townhouse translates minimalism into warmth.
Fifteen years after first collaborating, architect Bart America reunited with his longtime clients to reimagine the upper levels of an early twentieth-century townhouse in central Antwerp. The aim was to create a sense of spatial coherence and light—an interior of calm where rooms unfold seamlessly, one flowing into the other.
By removing part of the intermediate floor, America introduced a double-height living volume that binds the two levels through light and vertical connection. A full-height panoramic window draws daylight deep into the home, while a steel-framed internal window offers a soft separation for the upstairs bedroom—creating a nook of privacy without losing contact with the space below.
With few original details remaining, America sought to evoke the spirit of the home’s era through material and proportion rather than direct restoration. “We emphasised features typical of that time—ceiling heights, and the use of rich, natural materials like wood, bronze, and steel in traditional finishes—then carried those choices through the new joinery and furnishings,” he explains. The result is a palette of tactile continuity, where architecture and furniture merge into a single, cohesive composition.
A section of the intermediate floor was removed to form the home’s double-height heart—a vertical axis that brings in light and connects both levels in a single, fluid gesture.
A sculpted Portoro marble counter gently frames the kitchen entrance, while Michaël Verheyden’s bespoke resin-finished dining table mirrors the room’s soft light.
In the double-height living room, a custom sofa and ottoman by Michaël Verheyden trace a gentle geometry beneath the soaring wall, where a circular artwork by Stijn Van Steendam becomes a quiet focal point. A Molteni&C sideboard and a silk-and-wool carpet by JOV complete the space’s subdued composition.
Made-to-measure furniture and objects, conceived in collaboration with Michaël Verheyden, extend the architecture’s quiet discipline throughout. In the main living area, a custom sofa and ottoman by Verheyden establish gentle geometry against the vertical expanse. One of the few artworks in the space—a circular piece by Stijn Van Steendam—floats alone on the wall; its sculptural form and reflective texture offer the eye a moment of stillness.
Beneath the mezzanine, a more introverted reading room introduces contrast and retreat. Here, bespoke oak shelving and a built-in sofa form a distinct cocoon, where darker tones and soft lighting create a cosy atmosphere.
Dark-stained oak flooring shifts from herringbone to a straighter lay as the home moves from living to dining spaces—a discreet change in rhythm and mood.
In the dining and kitchen areas, minimalism takes its most articulate form. A palette of oak, marble, and resin reminds us that materials take centre stage here. A monolithic Portoro marble counter curves around the kitchen entrance, marking the confluence of spaces—at once divider and invitation, it extends a tactile welcome into the cooking zone. Opposite, a resin-finished dining table by Verheyden captures and reflects the surrounding light and outside greenery like a serene pool of water.
For America, this home embodies an “understated combination of cosmopolitan urban feel with quintessential Flemish craft.” That sensibility unfolds as an environment refined not by excess, but by composure.
Two Fauteuil Grand Comfort Petite Modèle chairs designed by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand.
Tucked beneath the upper level, the reading room becomes a hushed enclave: a custom oak sofa with built-in shelving by Bart America is paired with a Portoro marble table lamp by Michael Verheyden and Audo Copenhagen sheepskin lazy chair. Darker cabinetry and a lowered ceiling height intensify the room’s introspective mood.
On the upper level, the master bedroom becomes a calm retreat, defined by a suede headboard and soft textiles by Designs of the Times. A sound-insulated internal window maintains a gentle visual connection to the living area below, balancing privacy with the home’s overarching sense of spatial continuity.
