VILLA MQ
This spacious villa is situated in Tremelo (BE), on a large terrain surrounded by pines. The house was designed for a couple with two children, that wanted something “special”. While in other designs OOA’s approach is very conceptual in the approach of design, here we just let it flow.Taking into account the building regulations, we started sculpting the house around the desired programs, thereby playing with the fundamental architectural elements and principles (form, space, …), taking away the usual references by using curved walls, different ceiling heights, light, …
Photography by © Tim Van de Velde
The flowing lines of the plan unfold across five split-levels. The entrance of the house, which is half a level lower than street level, is reached by way of a slope within a concrete framework in an artificial landscape. Although the programs blend into each other, natural light provides a unique atmosphere at every level: the continuous dispersion of light on the curved walls emphasizes the impalpable framework. The sloping balustrade that consists of parabolic cables intensifies the interweaving of the different spaces. On the next level, we find the kitchen, connected to the garden, and the slope towards the living room. An elongated cupola in the sloping ceiling/roof points the way to the highest zone, that of the children’s rooms. On this level, we also find the bathroom as a natural result of all preceding choices.
Photography by © Tim Van de Velde
Space squeezes itself through the taille (the circulation space), accelerates temporarily (the stairs as connections between the levels), only to expand again, enhancing the dramatic effect. The visual language is characterized by emotion and lively agility. The views that are wrenched away from the fixed grid are nonetheless clearly framed and pushed toward the back. This emphasizes the organic forms. The seemingly lifted volume causes a feeling of massive zero gravity. Life unfolds, turned away from the street and oriented towards the gardens. The artificial landscape that is created inside is well defined and flows back to the surrounding lawn.
Photography by © Tim Van de Velde
Project Info:
Architects: Office O architects
Location: Tremelo, Belgium
Area: 490.0 m²
Project Year: 2015
Photographs: Tim Van de Velde
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.