Villa CN is a minimalist villa located in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, designed by Van Damme-Vandeputte. The project represents a compelling case study in how contemporary Belgian architecture can honor regional coastal traditions while establishing an entirely modern spatial language. Set within the historic Simli district at the intersection of two streets, the villa demonstrates the architects’ conviction that meaningful design cannot exist without deep engagement with its cultural and physical context.
Van Damme-Vandeputte’s approach to this compact coastal plot reveals a sophisticated understanding of how new construction can strengthen rather than disrupt established neighborhood character. The decision to replace a deteriorated house with a contemporary villa required careful calibration between innovation and respect for local architectural DNA. The resulting design draws from the district’s white-painted timber vernacular while incorporating the functional clarity of nearby mid-century bungalows, particularly those by Peter Callebout. This contextual sensitivity extends to the villa’s most distinctive feature: a thatched roof that signals what the architects describe as a quiet resurgence of this traditional craft as a marker of refined luxury along the Belgian coast.
The material palette demonstrates how contemporary residential design can achieve warmth and monumentality simultaneously. Leather wall coverings provide tactile richness throughout the interior, their natural grain creating subtle textural variations that respond to changing light conditions. Bronze fixtures develop their own patina narratives over time, while bleached walnut parquet floors establish a foundation of understated elegance. The interplay between these materials creates what Van Damme-Vandeputte characterize as their signature atmosphere of warmth and security, achieved through intuitive rather than rigid geometric approaches.
