Adaptive reuse of a farmstead

Together with the client, we searched for a place where architecture and landscape could strengthen one another. In the agricultural hinterland of Duffel, a non-conforming farmhouse was extended with horse stables after intensive negotiations with the Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries. The result is a vernacular ensemble, where house and stable share a common architectural language and together define the edge of the meadows, preserving a majestic walnut tree as a central anchor. A gravel driveway evokes a southern French atmosphere, while the buildings form part of the fencing, allowing horses to wander freely up to the terrace and living spaces. Inside, the house retains its original tripartite structure, complemented by a split level and a sunken sleeping area, creating an intimate and sheltered domestic world. A carport links the house and stable, forming a covered outdoor room. Framed vistas and a double-height living space reinforce the bond with the landscape. Humans, animals, and nature coexist here in harmonious symbiosis.