La maison Van Wasserhose

Brutalism, radicality, geometry

Woning Van Wassenhove - Juliaan Lampens from Dieter Decostere on Vimeo.

The house

The Van Wassenhove house is one of the most radical houses ever built in Belgium! The house, designed by architect Juliaan Lampens, was built between 1972 and 1974 in Sint-Martens-Latem in Belgium for Bachelor Albert Van Wassenhove, a teacher with a passion for contemporary art and architecture.

This house made in concrete, wood and glass in which all living areas overlap in one single opened space. The wooden stairs is the central point of this space, from both fonctionnal and architectural part. He defines the scale by its sculptural dimensions.

The truth about the materials engaged and the game light give to the rough concrete a smoothness which appears as like a noble and warm material.

After the death of Albert Van Wassenhove in 2012, the house was bequeathed to the University of Ghent, who in turn gave it on a long-term loan to the museum Dhondt-Dhaenens in Deurle. This house can be used for artist residency or writers and reseacher. They can work there their projects in silence and isolation.

The house was renovated in 2015 thanks to the support of Philippe and Miene Gillion and can be rented for one or few days between April and September (here).

The man

Juliaan Lampens is a Belgium architect born in 1926 which built about 35 houses in a brutalist style, some became real icons of contemporary architecture.