Hôtel de famille

Refurbishment of a family mansion in Leuven.

Location             Leuven, BE  
Date                    2020 - 2026
Client                  Private commission   
Architect            ALTSTADT
Team                  Buro Kiss
Construction      Bomatec, Fermetti, Ecoworks
Phase                 Completed   

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A townhouse in Leuven is occupied year-round by two residents, but regularly transforms into a temporary home for an extended family.

The architectural interventions respond to this shifting occupancy with subtle adjustments that improve comfort without altering the house’s fundamental character.

Upstairs, two bathrooms have been reconfigured to reflect their  intended use. One, compact and efficient, serves the permanent residents; the other is more generous, designed for family visits during holidays. Their size and layout anticipate the rhythm of presence and absence that defines the house.

On the ground floor, the kitchen becomes the project’s central space. Rebuilt as both a functional workspace and a place of gathering, it accommodates daily routines as well as larger family moments. It opens onto a new balcony, added to the rear façade.

Elevated above the garden, this balcony operates as a threshold between interior and exterior. The balcony connects to a wide terrace at garden level, conceived as an outdoor living room. During summer months, it offers space for meals, rest, and play. At the far end of the garden, a new natural pool completes the sequence.

Each intervention is precise and restrained, forming a coherent  spatial thread that links the domestic interior to the landscape.  Together, they allow the house to expand and contract in response to changing needs, without compromising its clarity or calm. 

Photography interior © Kaatje Verschoren