Modern Classical in Bruges: Restoring a 16th-Century Home

Old architecture, new life

What a challenging project this must have been. A sprawling 16th-century residence in historic Bruges has been carefully restored and modernised by Simon de Burbure Architects. The house had not undergone a major renovation since around 1880, so there was an extraordinary amount of history to work with, and to protect.

What I love is that the finished house does not try to hide its age. Original architectural details sit comfortably alongside much cleaner contemporary additions, so you are always aware of both the history of the building and the fact that this is now very much a modern home.

Craftsmanship at the heart of the restoration

Much of the success of this home comes down to craftsmanship and attention to detail. Historic elements were painstakingly restored while new spaces were introduced with a very different, more contemporary character.

There is plenty of luxury here, but it feels rooted in the materials themselves rather than simply added for effect. Rich timber, stone, decorative plasterwork and stained glass meet smooth marble and restrained modern forms. Somehow neither side seems to compete with the other.

Curves, marble and stillness

Curves abound, every material invites you to linger and caress. The marble baths are pretty amazing, and the stillness and calm of the pool makes you wonder whether you would actually want to disturb the water’s perfect glistening surface.

These rooms feel unmistakably modern, yet they do not seem disconnected from the rest of the house. The arches, stone and subdued colours give the newer spaces a sense of permanence, almost as though they have gradually grown out of the older building.

A home rather than a museum

I would love to see how a family would live in it, and how it would soften with the human touch. At the moment, gazing at one beautiful room after another, the whole place has an almost timeless quality.

Perhaps that is what makes the restoration so successful. The history has clearly been treated with enormous respect, but the house has not been frozen in the past. The new architecture has been allowed to have its own voice too, making this feel like another chapter in the life of the building rather than an attempt to return it to a particular moment in time.

Originally found at D Pages.