In Grez-Doiceau, architect Philippe Vander Maren and artist Richard Venlet have designed a house brimming with features which, whilst paying close attention to the architectural dimension, manages to avoid becoming over the top. Their precise decisions regarding these architectural elements, applied to a pragmatic spatial layout, result in an impressive complexity.

Quality architecture has the power to create specific spatial conditions for the most common functions of daily life. This is where the act of building becomes the art of building. Shopping can be more than simply buying goods; school years can turn into memories linked to the experience of a space; enjoying a delicious meal can become a pleasure on every level. A home, where domestic functions can also be choreographed and influence one’s lifestyle, can be far more than just a roof over one’s head. Conversely, all these experiences can be spoiled by an architectural design that takes itself too seriously, imposing exaggerated interventions on the scenes of everyday life.