In Belgium, this renovated farmhouse sits on land marked by World War I, negotiating a peaceful balance between its history, landscape and architecture.
Originally a Belgian farmhouse, the Palingbeek home is restored by architecture studio Decancq Vercruysse into a contemporary interpretation of farmhouse living. Set apart from the world with centuries of quiet history built in, the building was in poor condition before the team approached it with careful consideration. “We decided to keep the part of the house that was well positioned and still retained the typical archetypal shape of the local farmhouses,” architect Emiel Vercruysse says. The remaining structure’s condition led to the demolition of a significant portion, replaced with a new form designed to open onto the surrounding landscape.
Vercruysse notes that one of the main challenges during restoration was navigating the site’s history, set on a former World War I battlefield. Early construction uncovered multiple unexploded bombs, where “authorities were required to intervene several times to safely dismantle them,” Vercruysse says. This reminder of the past sits in contrast to the nearby Palingbeek nature reserve, informing a design that honours both history and landscape. Previously the original home felt “very closed off from its environment,” Vercruysse says, noting how the restoration process allowed the home to take new shapes, channel minimalism with preservation, and gently open up without compromising the structural principles that define it. The main intention, as Vercruysse notes, was to create a new addition that would reconnect the home with its beautiful surroundings.”.
In the kitchen, poured concrete and German grey stone reference historic Belgian architecture, while bespoke elements including a custom-designed pendant lamp and small table sit alongside Fredericia J39 chairs by Børge Mogensen.
Decancq Vercruysse selected interior materials that are almost brutal in their simplicity, forming a durable yet contemporary backdrop where family life and connection to nature are central.
Among the lush green lawn, the home rises from a concrete base, its solidity and modernity offset by the softer, traditional thatched roof above. This material duality becomes the project’s defining principle, allowing old and new to coexist without blending into a single style. Sliding doors throughout the addition create a fluid connection to the outdoors, “allowing the landscape to become part of the living experience, creating the sense of moving through the surrounding landscape rather than through a series of enclosed rooms,” Vercruysse explains.
Inside, bespoke detailing adds layers of texture and colour through stone, soft plaster-painted walls, and Belgian oak flooring. “The plinth that runs along the exterior façade continues into the interior, particularly in the bed and main bedroom area,” Vercruysse says. Traditionally used in farmhouses to protect the brick façade from groundwater, the plinth is reimagined inside, strengthening the link between the building’s heritage and its contemporary yet honest transformation.
The dining area features a custom-designed table paired with Fredericia J39 chairs by Børge Mogensen, complemented by Atelier Pierre Culot objects and artwork by Imi Knoebel.
A Living Divani Extrasoft sofa, Daphine Terra Led floor lamp and artwork by Frederic Anderson anchors the living room, contrasting the material palette.
In the bathroom, brushed stainless steel is paired with light timber, where natural light highlights green mosaic tiles, introducing a rich textural contrast to the natural palette.
Outside, wood-cast concrete forms the plinth and walls, while the pool terrace unfolds in Muschelkalk stone, softened by Afrormosia timber.
Concrete introduces sharper, more defined lines and permanence, while the wood and thatched roof reference the original farmhouse, bringing a sense of warmth and softness.
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