Building on a long-standing relationship with the owners, who had previously worked with Brussels-based interior designer Nathalie Deboel in Knokke, it was a natural choice for Deboel to partner with them again as they sought a pied-à-terre in a historic area of Belgium’s capital.
The owners had a clear vision for the apartment—it needed to be a place where they could stay briefly between their travels, while also providing a fitting backdrop for their art collection. “They are extremely minimalist,” Deboel explains. “But we understood each other instantly: less is more.”
The apartment’s design draws heavily from its architectural heritage: a 1960s building designed by Belgian modernist architect Stanislas Jasinski. With clean lines and a functional layout, the interiors connect with the exterior’s white-painted brick, wooden latticework and glass. Deboel also honoured the building’s history by exposing its original concrete framework, using it as decorative ceiling beams and structural columns.
Comprising a living room, kitchen and three bedrooms with ensuites, Deboel opted for a more structured layout, stepping away from a conventional open-plan design. Each space remains independent yet also interconnected, with ceiling-high pivot doors facilitating a fluid transition between the areas while maintaining privacy when needed. “We wanted to maintain a refined and intentional flow throughout the spaces,” Deboel says, reflecting Jaskinski’s vision of prioritising light and spatial harmony.
A Kristin McKirdy floor sculpture paired with a vintage Jean Dubuffet painting and the mid-century modern wall light by Jules Wabbes.
Exposed, washed concrete floors foster a connection with the once purely functional concrete columns, grounding the apartment in its modernist roots. At the same time, the kitchen’s light grey, sandblasted woodwork adds subtle touches of uniform purity and visual interest. These elements allow the art collection to take centre stage without distraction.
“The owners have a deep appreciation for contemporary and modern art,” Deboel says. At the heart of the interiors lies their impressive collection, which includes vintage paintings by Richard Serra, Jean Dubuffet, Jules Olitski and Dadamaino, alongside modern sculptures by Alexander Calder, Kristin McKirdy and Robert Brendel. “The intention was to create spaces where their collection could be displayed, but also evolve—where it could be changed, expanded and adapted over time,” Deboel says.
A vintage Ado Chale dining table and chairs, paired with a Robert Brendel botanical model.
This intention extends to the furniture, where notable pieces are featured throughout. “They have a strong affinity for iconic pieces by designers and architects like Charlotte Perriand and Oscar Niemeyer,” Deboel says. The design also pays homage to Belgian artists and designers, with standout works including Ado Chale’s dining table and chairs, paired with several Jules Wabbes pieces, such as the Hexagonal table lamp and mid-century modern wall light.
Combining modernist architecture, minimalist Belgian design and a vintage art collection, Nathalie Deboel’s vision for creating meaningful spaces is realised in this Uccle apartment, resulting in a pied-à-terre that is both enduring and guided by its core values.
Featured is the Retrofuturism lounge chair by Oscar and Anna Maria Niemeyer, the Cassina 524 Tabouret Berger stools and a vintage shelf, both by Charlotte Perriand.
“One of the defining features of Jasinski’s design is the way the buildings are harmoniously integrated into their green surroundings, with a strong emphasis on natural light and spatial flow,” Deboel explains. Featured are the Pierre Paulin Mushrooms armchairs, a vintage Cansado bench by Charlotte Perriand and a vintage Hexagonal table lamp by Jules Wabbes.
In the bedroom, the mid-century modern wall light by Jules Wabbes and the Nagato side table by Christian Liaigre, paired with an original ceiling sculpture by Alexander Calder.
The apartment is situated within a historic 1960s building designed by modernist Belgian architect Stanislas Jasinski.
