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Because its natural surroundings are so extraordinary, specific living areas of this villa have been oriented towards the forest by ILB Architecten, with glass “walls” that are completely transparent. -
Interior designer Dorien Cooreman of Moka Projects is also the owner of interiors shop Moka Tales. -
A collaboration between Moka Projects and ILB Architecten, the forest villa features geometric volumes of stone and dark wooden cladding, which provide a more enclosed character to the private spaces. -
Belgian Forest Villa -
In the living space, a Ciel sofa by L’Authentique has been upholstered in stonewashed linen. The cushions were designed by Dorien. -
The painting is by artist Yves Rhayé. -
A compact office space is equipped with a modular Frama Shelf Library system. -
Stained oak flooring adds warmth throughout the home. -
Visible through the glass “walls” of the lounge, the black VIPP kitchen’s modular design combines painted MDF panels with Sahara Blanc marble countertops. The dining table and Harbour chairs are by Moka Tales. -
Visible through the glass “walls” of the lounge, the black VIPP kitchen’s modular design combines painted MDF panels with Sahara Blanc marble countertops. The dining table and Harbour chairs are by Moka Tales. -
The lighting above the dining table is by Fien Muller of Muller Van Severen. -
“In everything, this house shows that it respects the surrounding nature,” says Dorien. -
“In everything, this house shows that it respects the surrounding nature,” says Dorien. -
“In everything, this house shows that it respects the surrounding nature,” says Dorien. -
The guest bedroom is fully furnished by Moka Tales. -
A wooden desk and Harbour chair by Moka Tales. -
The master bedroom is warm but minimalist, with whites and creams as the predominant palette. -
The main en suite bathroom features a Vieques XS bathtub by Patricia Urquiola for Agape, a Sahara Blanc marble vanity by Moka Tales and VOLA tapware by Arne Jacobsen.
Due to its location in Belgium’s Meylandt-Obbeek Nature Reserve, the challenge for this home’s designers was to come up with a structure and interior that did justice to its spectacular position in the middle of an immense forest.
WORDS & PRODUCTION Marc Heldens PHOTOS Verne Photography
And it was a challenge that Dorien Cooreman of interior design firm Moka Projects and Elizabet Iglesias of ILB Architecten (who has since started her own practice, Iglesias Architects) were happy to take on. The question was, how does one cut down as few trees as possible, but still create a functional layout that meets the owners’ list of requirements?
The answer was a home that optimally embraces the inside-outside relationship – a symbiosis of open and closed, architecture and interiors, as well as comfort and functionality. Specific living areas are oriented towards the forest so the glass fronts could be completely transparent, while the sides of the villa – all angular lines of stone and dark wooden cladding – have a more closed character.
With its geometric volumes, the striking overhang of the large flat roof and the completely transparent glass facade, this villa is reminiscent of Pierre Koenig’s Case Study House #22. Built in 1959, that Modernist icon looks out over the Los Angeles hills. What sets this project apart is its location in the privacy of a large forest, which partly determined the starting points of the architecture. “In everything, this house shows that it respects the surrounding nature,” says Dorien. “It was a difficult task to achieve on this forest plot – but the villa had to look modest, like a functional yet sheltered nest made by a bird.”
The villa’s rather dark entrance is on the street side. Upon entering, you emerge into a light and natural space, with a large skylight providing plenty of daylight. From here, you have the choice to go left, towards the master bedroom/bathroom; or right, towards the living room and kitchen. Thereafter, both corridors became long viewing axes, stretching far into the garden.
The visual axis towards the kitchen is the most striking – the ceiling appears as a kind of cross that introduces a small, compact living room/fireplace and home office halfway through. Here, you have a view to the right of a small inner patio, which conveys the feeling of being outside. You experience the layout of the villa as a natural flow, with the home guiding you through space after space, each with a different perspective and accented by different pieces of furniture and art.
Key to it all are the views and sightlines to the woodland garden – they become living paintings. “Architecture must speak for itself. It cannot be explained,” says Elizabet. “Of course, the theory is important – but architecture is mainly a question of orientation, view, capturing sunlight, and the use of special materials. The pursuit of beauty is today considered to be kind of taboo, but is in fact essential. We think of architecture in terms of abstraction, far from human feelings. However, it is nothing more than a ‘theatre of life’. Architecture forms scenes that frame our daily actions of living, eating, sleeping, gathering together and working from home.”
While the exterior architecture employs rough stone, black wooden cladding and sturdy concrete to accomplish its objectives, the interior has a serene and almost modest atmosphere, with its stucco benefiting from a natural green tint courtesy of the outside greenery and large windows. “I’m always looking for beauty, harmony and authenticity,” says Dorien. “I’m passionate about natural materials, light and pure tones, washed textiles, aged wood and soft textures. I take a warm but minimalist approach to interiors – they provide a modest, soothing atmosphere; an escape from the hustle of everyday life.”
Standing behind the kitchen counter, you get a beautiful view of the long wooden dining table, the terrace, and far into the back yard. “It is special to see that the villa is immersed in nature, but also remains visible,” says Dorien with a slight smile. Pointing to the many wooden birdhouses in the garden, she adds: “Sometimes you see the songbirds flying in and having some doubts… ‘Should I choose the forest villa – or one of the 16 other birdhouses?’” moka-projects.com | iglesias-architects.com
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