Bathed in soft light and layered in muted tones, this renovated Antwerp townhouse translates minimalism into warmth—a refined dialogue between material and proportion, openness and repose.
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. What emerged is a study in sophisticated tranquility—a home that balances restraint with intimacy.
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.
