Month: December 2021

“Protection is something very important that we all need and that is something that I want to translate into my architectural and design work.” This is a quote said by one of my favourite contemporary architect/interior designer Vincent Van Duysen. 

Vincent graduated from Sint-Lucas School of Architecture in Ghent and soon established his own design firm Vincent Van Duysen Architect which has gradually grown into a team of more than thirty collaborators working on a wide range of projects, from product design for numerous brands to commercial and large-scale architectural work specializing in high-end residences across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.

Vincent believes that there is “a definite relationship between architecture, interior and product design which has been the driving force behind the conception of projects inspired by subtle transitions between these disciplines and combined with a spatial design attitude, constantly striving for the essence.” He’s specializes in transforming simple materials with tactile into a clean and timeless design. He also believes in “Functionality, durability and comfort are the prime components of the work, an architectural language not shy to convey aesthetics, but prone to eschew fashion and trends.”

Having worked as a FF&E specialist for several years in an interior design firm, I had numerously encounters with Vincent’s design work in terms of his furniture designs and closet systems. I was inspired by his design philosophy a lot as I truly appreciate his material selections and geometry preferences. In order to create a timeless design, it is crucial to keep the material selection and geometry as simple as possible.

Below is one of his recent architecture/interior design work done in Antwerp, Belgium, which really showcases his ideology. The concept of the project was to create an ‘urban loft’ that retains the rawness of construction, yet encompasses a complete finish and feeling of comfort. The concrete ceiling and rough timber refer to the historical warehouses, which have an architectural presence in the surrounding quay and the city. The walls and floors are finished in the same material to a rigorous standard of detail for a sober and textural appearance. The material selection is a manifestation of the grey tones of the River Scheldt and its quayside, as well as referring to the Arte Povera movement, in which driftwood, metal, earth and concrete were used.

2 Willow Road by Erno Goldfinger

Ernö Goldfinger’s 2 Willow Road was always intended to be a family home. The Goldfingers initially wanted to buy the site of 2 Willow Road as an investment and a chance to demonstrate his skill and vision as an architect. As in the case of other modernist houses of that period, it was characterized by strong, clean lines, exposed reinforced concrete columns considered to be the frame of the building, as well as a series of continuous windows on the first floor.[1]

Despite the exposed columns and concrete frame that would become representative of Goldfinger’s architectural style, he did not throw away the tradition of classical architecture in which he had trained. Goldfinger explained that very little concrete would evident from the outside that it would conform to the surroundings and tradition of Georgian buildings in London. Especially noteworthy are the innovative techniques for maximizing space in the house. Flexible partitions allow the space to be easily divided into a multipurpose area. A typical example is a folding screen that separates his wife’s art studio from the dining room, which operates on a floor-to-ceiling piano hinge, thus eliminating any requirement for a track.[2]

The majority of the furnishings for the house were designed by Goldfinger, including an innovative desk with horizontally swivelling drawers, bookshelves, and even door handles. The rectangular desk is reminiscent of the architectural features of the building itself. It combines traditional wood tops and black plastic laminates, which represent a fusion of old and new. As well, the simplicity, functionality, and shape of the building’s exterior are also reflected in the desk’s design as the desk is very simple in shape but boasts an iconic swivelling drawer that mimics the flexible partitions of the interiors.[3]

[1] 2 willow road. National Trust. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2021, from https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/2-willow-road.

[2] 2 willow road. 2 Willow Road – Designing Buildings. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2021, from https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/2_Willow_Road.

[3] Trust, N. (n.d.). Pedestal desk 112475. National Trust. Retrieved November 6, 2021, from https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/112475.