set within a forest clearing in ghent, belgium, the ‘house BM’ by belgian practice architecten de vylder vinck taillieu connects with the surrounding nature through each of its facets. gently lifted above the ground with a foundation on wells, the structure allows the wooded environment and tree roots to pass unaffected beneath the floor plate. the circular floor plan is arranged around a central courtyard which wraps around a cluster of existing mature trees. bordered with 18 windows comprised of large glass panels, the exterior environment is woven into the internal experience, maintaining views from all rooms within the dwelling.
exterior
image © filip dujardin (also main image)
the concrete floor and roof slabs are connected with intermittent concrete partitions which divide the internal circulation and rooms. the structural elements vary in depth based upon the varied spans, maintaining its thickness near the perimeter of the home and becoming thinner towards the inner ring. left exposed, the raw texture left from the construction formworks become the interior’s main finish. formed with sheets of plywood, external shutters enclosing the facade form an alternating pattern when drawn closed.
the structure is gently lifted above the ground
image © filip dujardin
black panels with white detailing
image © filip dujardin
bedrooms are bordered with red facade detailing
image © filip dujardin
living spaces are bordered with white facade detailing
image © filip dujardin
corridor bordering internal courtyard
image © filip dujardin
glass sliding doors open to the internal courtyard
image © filip dujardin
image © filip dujardin
fireplace
image © filip dujardin
living area
image © filip dujardin
image © filip dujardin
kitchen
image © filip dujardin
view of kitchen from dining area
image © filip dujardin
image © filip dujardin
image © filip dujardin
courtyard
image © filip dujardin
(left) inner ring corridor
(right) office
images © filip dujardin
(left) children’s bedroom
(right) corridor
images © filip dujardin
bedroom corridor
image © filip dujardin
construction
image © filip dujardin
resting upon an elevated concrete floor slab, vertical concrete partitions support the concrete roof slab
image © filip dujardin
texture from the wooden construction formwork remain exposed to produce a uniform interior finish
image © filip dujardin
before enclosure
image © filip dujardin
floor plan / level 0
sketch of the dwelling within the woods
sketch of glass boundary between internal courtyard and living spaces
sketch of living area
sketch of dining area
