On the sixteenth floor of an apartment building in Oostduinkerke in Belgium we realised a compact weekend residence. It is characterised by unrestricted sea views and an extraordinary sense of space thanks to its sophisticated symmetry, the use of natural colours and materials, details in the finishing and a sophisticated play of light and shadow.
On the sixteenth floor of an apartment building in Oostduinkerke in Belgium we realised a compact weekend residence. It is characterised by unrestricted sea views and an extraordinary sense of space thanks to its sophisticated symmetry, the use of natural colours and materials, details in the finishing and a sophisticated play of light and shadow.
Anyone entering the weekend residence on the 16th floor passes a long, sober entrance hall with cloakroom and bathroom into an open-plan living space with a sea view. Nothing is brusque, as the apartment was conceived as an extension of its surroundings. Thus, the beach visually continues in the parquet floor and the sea continues its path in the walls with clouded greige hue. It illustrates how every effort was made to coordinate the materials, colours and proportions in the flat to draw all attention to the sea view. It completes the natural sense of space, light and sight in this project.
Anyone entering the weekend residence on the 16th floor passes a long, sober entrance hall with cloakroom and bathroom into an open-plan living space with a sea view. Nothing is brusque, as the apartment was conceived as an extension of its surroundings. Thus, the beach visually continues in the parquet floor and the sea continues its path in the walls with clouded greige hue. It illustrates how every effort was made to coordinate the materials, colours and proportions in the flat to draw all attention to the sea view. It completes the natural sense of space, light and sight in this project.
What was once a studio has been transformed into a one-bedroom flat of 40 m2 with an extraordinary atmosphere. Contributing to this sense of feeling is not only the passage from the sober entrance to the living space, but also the detailing in the finishes, such as the paintwork extending to the ceiling and the far-reaching symmetry, both spatially and in the decoration of the flat. The fact that whilst creating intense tranquillity by the sea, it is better to surprise than to be brusque, is proven by finely invented details such as the shadow line drawn between wall and ceiling.
Onto the play of light and shadow. Since the 1950s building does not face the sea, but has a slight bend in its orientation towards the sea, daylight from the north does not enter directly, but diffusely or softly. Furthermore, candlelight was integrated in the lighting plan to create atmosphere. It makes time slip away in this weekend retreat. The apartment is a place to deconnect from outside and connect with whoever you share the space with.