Overview
Merckx-Holvoet Architecten, an Antwerp-based studio, completed the design of a penthouse referred to as V Penthouse. This holiday residence is situated across the ninth and tenth floors of a building in Duinbergen, a seaside village located within Belgium's West Flanders region. The design brief for the V Penthouse focused on creating an interior environment that evokes the character of the North Sea coast, specifically drawing inspiration from its sandy tones.
Research Context
The design approach for the V Penthouse was rooted in the aim to reflect the natural surroundings. The studio explicitly sought to have the interiors informed by the sandy tones characteristic of Belgium's North Sea shore. This environmental influence guided the aesthetic and material choices for the project.
Approach
Merckx-Holvoet Architecten aimed to create an interior space described as 'enveloping'. This objective was applied to the V Penthouse, a holiday home. The design process involved considering the penthouse's location—ninth and tenth floors of a building in Duinbergen—and integrating visual cues from the local coastal environment.
Findings
- The interiors of the V Penthouse were directly informed by the sandy tones observed along Belgium's North Sea shore.
- The design intention, as stated by the architects, was to craft an interior that 'envelops'.
- The V Penthouse functions as a holiday home.
- It occupies the ninth and tenth floors of a building in Duinbergen.
- Merckx-Holvoet Architecten, based in Antwerp, is the studio responsible for the design.
Why This Matters
This project illustrates a specific application of environmental inspiration in architectural interior design, demonstrating how local natural elements, such as coastal sandy tones, can directly inform the aesthetic and experiential goals for a residential space like a penthouse holiday home.