LENS°ASS

Rough luxe, rustic yet modern, traditional married with minimalism. Indoor melds with outdoor, concrete and stainless steel, glass and pebbles and everything washed with beautiful natural light. The gallery and dwelling of Valerie Traan in Antwerp, Belgium by LENS°ASS Architect. Subtle beauty, the preservation of the old and the juxtaposition of the modern in a sympathetic way and always the presence of repeating patterns of brick or herringbone or block. After the jump a few more images from the firm's design of a GP surgery in an old brick barn like structure.

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The water tower house

Take a disused water tower on an old manor house's estate, a local council who had no need for it, a landscape designer who had a vision and an architect who made it happen. 6 storeys of bachelor pad now rises from the grounds surrounded by woodlands and encroaching suburbia. To complete the unlikely dream a meandering brook runs by the foot of the tower. A switcheroo on the Rapuntzel fairytale, the landscape architect now sits in his tower perhaps waiting for his princess? The Water Tower at Brasschaat, just outside Antwerp by Crepain Binst Architecture.

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Belgian Villa

The following villa on the Belgian coast captured my interest immediately. I have always loved a home that is traditional on the outside and not-so-much on the inside. I love anything with a shock factor. And this radically transformed home is just that. Traditional on the outside (complete with thatched roof) with a modern industrial vibe on the inside. Totally unexpected. (Maison & Travaux, photography: Patrick Smith, architect: Lionel Jadot)

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Bieke Claessens ... but wait there's more!

More than one string to Belgian photographer Bieke Claessen's bow. Just like there is more to Belgian design that spartan minimalist modern design. How about a softer more traditional take? Ok not soft as in fluffy and frou frou. We all know that the Belgians aren't into soft and fluffy. It's more like a restrained high style from the Low Countries. Still with that light touch that Bieke brings to her lens.

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Bieke Claessens

Less is more. No nonsense. Straight up. Restrained. Tightly curated. Minimalist and modern. Clever insight. No need to embellish. As it is. Unencumbered. True and simple. Beautiful but spartan. I'm not just talking about Belgian design. I'm talking about Belgian photographer Bieke Claessens' portfolio.

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