Four young architects who are friends are designing and renovating the home of a couple who are moving from Ghent to Kortrijk for affordability reasons. They are not looking for compromise and are resolutely committed to the design.

No fewer than four architects are working together on this relatively small project. First and foremost is Sis Pillen himself, the owner and occupant of the house. About two years ago, he and his partner Delfien Versaevel were looking for a house to buy in Ghent, where they were still renting at the time. But it soon became clear that a spacious, good-quality town house was simply unaffordable for a young family. They decided to expand their search area and, in early 2020, came across an authentic, eclectic 19th-century mansion on Minister Julien Liebaertlaan in Kortrijk. Although neither Sis nor Delfien had any connection to Kortrijk – no history of studying there, few friends, little family – they decided quite impulsively to purchase the house. Their move from the student city of Ghent was therefore not a back-to-the-roots story, but entirely motivated by economic reasons in their search for an affordable family home.