A home for life is a concept that many aspire to, and Felt, a Belgian architecture studio, has delivered just that with their latest project, Heifort. This remarkable residence, designed for a retired couple in Ghent, Belgium, offers a unique and accessible living experience.
Heifort, nestled in the suburbs of Ghent, spans a modest 130 square meters, yet its design is anything but ordinary. With a focus on "ageing-in-place", the home boasts an open, single-storey layout, ensuring ease of movement and a sense of spaciousness.
The interior is a masterpiece of natural materials and thoughtful design. Tall, open-plan living spaces are divided by exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Felt describes it as a "calm, readable, and generous" space, one that adapts to the changing needs of its inhabitants.
"Living rooms and bedrooms seamlessly blend with more intimate zones," Felt explains. "This thoughtful layout ensures the home is easy to navigate and comfortable, both now and in the future."
Large portals without doors connect the kitchen, dining, and living areas, creating a sense of flow and openness. The white-painted ceilings reveal the full roof ridge, adding a touch of architectural drama.
But here's where it gets interesting: the CLT partition walls feature circular openings that align with porthole-like windows at the gable ends. This clever design element brings natural light deep into the home, creating a bright and airy interior.
The interior reveals the beauty of the CLT structure, which Felt describes as having a "self-evident construction logic". The repeated CLT portal frames act as the backbone of the project, creating a unique and surprising longitudinal view through a series of rounded openings.
While the street-facing facade is understated and blank, the rear of the home opens up to a lush garden. Large sliding glass doors invite the outdoors in, leading to a small patio with seating, a lawn, and planters surrounding a tree.
At the front of the home, a hidden gem awaits: an attic guest room for visitors and grandchildren, tucked beneath the large copper-clad roof. Accessible via a spiral staircase in powder blue, it's a charming and cozy space.
The roof, clad in untreated copper panels, will naturally weather over time, adding a unique and rustic charm to the home.
Felt, founded in 2014 by Jasper Stevens and Karel Verstraeten, has a portfolio that includes another recent residential project in Ghent, where they updated a midcentury bungalow with a distinctive blue ceramic tile-clad "tower" and rust-colored window frames.
This project, Heifort, is a testament to Felt's commitment to precision and long-term comfort. It's a home that adapts to its inhabitants, ensuring a peaceful and enjoyable retirement.
And this is the part most people miss: architecture is not just about the initial design, but about creating spaces that evolve with their residents. Felt has truly captured this essence with Heifort.
What do you think? Is this the ideal "house for life"? Share your thoughts and let's discuss the role of architecture in shaping our daily lives!
