It was the location and not the house itself that drew a young couple to purchase their new residence in Belgium. While it had lovely views of the Vlierbeek Abbey, the house suffered from disconnected rooms and lacked any meaningful relationship with its surroundings. Belgian studio no.ma architecten was tasked to not just renovate but also transform the Dragon House into a flexible, playful family home with a distinctive character.
The home’s exterior is clad in upcycled plastic diamond slats — the first Belgian project to feature this sustainable material. no.ma architecten’s use of this material lends the home a distinctive look with the slats’ color nuances and shadowing effects. In a bold and innovative move, the studio added an entirely new volume atop the original basement floor, forming a high-performance insulation shell that allowed a reimagining of the interior spaces.
New split levels, double-height volumes, and stairways give the home new and unexpected sight lines, visually expanding the perceived space. The red pigmented concrete floor flows from the interior to the exterior and cascades several steps down to a sunken living area. White walls, steel girders, and wooden beams feature prominently throughout the interiors, alongside the playful touches of oak veneer, green-painted furniture, and pink cement tiles.
Large glazing thoughtfully frames views of the sky, the surrounding farmlands and the abbey. The playful color scheme is complemented by a trap net that fills the void above the double-height kitchen, creating dramatic diagonal views between floors. With its new floor plan, generous glazing, and abundance of natural light, the formerly disconnected volume was successfully transformed into an integrated and inspiring family home. More projects by no.ma architecten.
Photography © Stijn Knapen