Bungalow Sint-Martens-Latem is a minimalist residence located in Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium, designed by Decancq Vercruysse Architects. The question of what to preserve in mid-century domestic architecture often hinges on recognizing inherent spatial intelligence. This 1960s bungalow presented not a historical monument requiring reverence but a coherent architectural proposition worth sustaining – low-slung proportions, generous glazing, and an open relationship with its wooded site. Decancq Vercruysse approached the renovation by identifying which original gestures still functioned effectively and which required recalibration for contemporary family living.
The architects concentrated their exterior interventions on refining the building’s horizontal expression. Repositioning the entrance clarified circulation while window compositions were adjusted to better frame views and balance daylight distribution. A subtle roofline modification reinforces the bungalow’s relationship to the ground plane, a characteristic feature of period domestic modernism that often gets compromised in well-meaning updates. These moves demonstrate restraint – each change serves the existing architectural language rather than imposing new formal ideas.
Interior reorganization centered on accommodating three bedrooms while maintaining the spatial generosity that defined the original plan. The living spaces flow openly, a continuity enhanced by careful material choices that bridge historical and contemporary sensibilities. White-painted brick provides textural warmth while remaining visually recessive, allowing the structure’s proportions to register clearly. Natural wood elements anchor the interior palette, their grain patterns offering subtle variation against cleaner surfaces.
Custom fabrication played a crucial role in marrying old and new. Stainless steel details – likely in kitchen and bathroom applications – introduce precision and durability without stylistic friction. Afromosia veneer, a tropical hardwood prized for its stability and rich amber tones, appears in joinery and possibly furniture elements. This species carries particular resonance in Belgian design history, frequently employed in mid-century interiors for its ability to age gracefully while maintaining structural integrity. Its inclusion here suggests attention to material longevity rather than mere aesthetic matching.
The project resists the common impulse to maximize square footage or introduce dramatic spatial gestures. Instead, it operates through adjustment and refinement, improving functionality while respecting the original design’s clarity. This approach – sometimes termed adaptive preservation – acknowledges that not every building requires radical transformation to remain relevant. The bungalow’s connection to its wooded context, established six decades ago through glazing placement and room orientation, continues to define daily experience within the house.
