Glass and Concrete in Balance | Residence SAB

Residence SAB (Belgium) by Govaert & Vanhoutte Architects is a concrete, glass, and timber house where a floating horizontal slab, floor‑to‑ceiling glazing, and a roof terrace among the treetops create calm indoor–outdoor living.
Set in Sint‑Martens‑Latem on a wooded site beside a golf course, the alignment, openings, and drives respect mature oaks and natural topography, curving under the house to a four‑car garage.
The ground level is oriented south and almost entirely glazed, with living, dining, and an open kitchen sliding onto a covered terrace for summer life inside and out.
A more private north side holds a home office, support spaces, and bathrooms, while an independent cinema anchors the west end for quiet screening.
Above, a warm timber volume gathers four bedrooms (primary suite, two identical suites, and a guest room) plus a study, protected from direct sun and outside views.
On the roof, a terrace with a fireplace and jacuzzi offers an elevated, secluded lookout over the canopy.
Outside, an open-air kitchen with barbecue and a fireplace extends social life to the edge of the lawn, and the pool is oriented southeast to capture the best light.
Below grade, a wellness level unfolds with a gym, bar, lounge, bike storage, and the garage, using darker tones and soft lighting interspersed with framed views of the greenery.
A concrete wall shields the house from the road and the golf course, while the south facade remains transparent—balancing privacy and openness.
Throughout, essential geometries and a restrained palette let the forest lead, from the floating slab and timber skin to the glass that brings nature into daily life.

Why watch
– Floating slab effect and precise indoor–outdoor transitions
– Social floor on the garden level; warm, quiet bedrooms above
– Roof terrace in the treetops; wellness and leisure level below
– Concrete, glass, and timber balanced for light, privacy, and calm

#ResidenceSAB #GovaertVanhoutte #BelgianArchitecture #ConcreteAndGlass #ForestHouse #ModernHouse #Architecture #HouseTour

Enjoy modern house tours focused on materials, light, and landscape—subscribe for weekly videos and comment with your favorite detail.

Project credits:
Architects: Govaert & Vanhoutte architects
Building Area: 1212 m2
Project year: 2022
Year the project was completed: 2024
Project location: Sint-Martens-Latem Belgium
Project area: 1212m²
Photography: Tijs Vervecken

Similar Posts

  • Saddle Peak Residence

    A completely transformative renovation opened this former tract home up to views, light, and its stunning outdoor setting. It’s all about the views, but this residence wasn’t always this way. What is now a metal and cedar stunner situated on a private, hilly enclave above Calabasas, was once a darkly lit 1960s-era generic single family home. A two-year renovation made a total overhaul for an entrepreneur and his wife, empty nesters with kids living nearby. The architect, Brian Wickersham of AUX Architecture in Los Angeles, didn’t change a thing in terms of the home’s footprint and rooflines; he couldn’t. “We initially looked at building a new home, but quickly learned that because of an ancient paleolithic landslide, that the county requirements for restraining the hill would be cost prohibitive and time-consuming—potentially five or more years,” says Wickersham. “Instead, we devised a plan to work within the existing house footprint and building envelope for a project that would be classified as a renovation.” In addition to these parameters, the homeowners tasked him with throwing out all of the old—down to the last salad fork—and bringing in everything new—all the while designing something where they could entertain a growing gaggle of grandkids. The result is a modern home that transitions from indoors to outdoors with the ease this property was intended for. “It’s about striking a balance between modest down-to-earth people and helping them realize they can be living a luxurious lifestyle,” says Wickersham. It’s about them living at a higher level of luxury.” A composition of dark standing seam metal and vertical grain cedar give the appearance of three cut pieces, shifted side-to-side, the wood being the cut face. The cedar siding also carries from outside to in, bringing warmth to the home and reinforcing the inside-outside connection. Solar panels, thermal panels to heat the pool, and a thermally coupled HVAC system enable the home to largely function off-the-grid.