What looks like a tranquil retreat in a remote location is actually a busy family home near Antwerp, Belgium.
A couple with three young daughters engaged DDM Architektuur to design their new family home in the town of Brasschaat, about 10 kilometres north of the city of Antwerp.

And although the house seems to be nestled in a remote forested area, it is actually very close to Brasschaat town proper with its 37,000 residents and numerous schools, shops, restaurants and cafes.
DDM founder Dirk De Meyer with team members Haodong Hu, Laurent Tammerman, Angelo Vandecasteele and Annelies De Keersmacker established a solid angular S-shaped plan for the house.

The garage, technical rooms and storage are in the basement. The main floor (ground floor) includes three separate zones, one for exercise, one for living and one for resting. The fitness area includes a swimming pool and a yoga room, the rest area includes three ensuite bedrooms, and the living space includes an open kitchen and a  dining area, and a double-height music room that overlooks the pond. The top floor includes the master bedroom, dressing room, library and a terrace.
The minimalist design of the house takes full advantage of the surrounding trees and the small pond on site. They also used materials that give the house an opulent appearance but do not to fight with the site: Slabs of Muschelkalk stone, dark wood slats and glass.

The architects selected Muschelkak stone for the façades and roof beca...