Brussels Home Renovation: Layout, Lighting & Energy

Transforming a Traditional Home into a Contemporary Space

The renovation of this detached house in Brussels exemplifies how traditional residences can be reinterpreted to meet the demands of contemporary living. Instead of merely focusing on superficial restoration, the project relied on a comprehensive reorganization of the interior spaces.

Addressing Interior Layout

Previously, the house consisted of small, enclosed rooms that lacked visual and functional connectivity, limiting natural light penetration and reducing daily usability. These issues were addressed by dismantling unnecessary internal partitions, following best practices in interior design projects.

Open Design and Enhanced Lighting

As a result of this transformation, the interior layout became more open and interconnected, allowing for better distribution of natural light throughout the home. This change not only enhanced aesthetics but also improved visual comfort and the overall quality of daily life for the residents.

Internal view from the entrance showing the visual continuity towards the garden through an open-plan layout. — Removing unnecessary partitions established a clear sense of continuity and visual unity across the ground floor. (Image © Filip Dujardin)

Interior hallway of a Brussels home showing a preserved classic wooden staircase and terrazzo flooring under a modern light-blue lintel. — The renovation preserves original structural elements like the wooden staircase, blending them with modern spatial interventions. (Image © Filip Dujardin)

Spacious dining area with a wooden table, white bench, and large openings connecting to the kitchen and hallway. — The new layout facilitates a smooth spatial flow between the dining and living areas, enhancing daily comfort. (Image © Filip Dujardin)

Reorganizing Interior Spaces

The renovation process focused on reshaping the interior spaces to achieve a smoother and more harmonious spatial flow. To this end, partition walls that fragmented the areas and limited their connectivity were removed, allowing for an open-plan layout that enhances the interaction between different living zones.

Open Plan and Spatial Continuity

As a result of this transformation, the spatial experience within the house improved significantly, with transitions between spaces becoming more fluid. This approach also reinforced a clear sense of continuity and visual unity across the various parts of the residence.

Repositioning the Kitchen

Meanwhile, the kitchen underwent a fundamental change in both location and function. Previously isolated from the rest of the spaces, it was repositioned to become a central hub for daily activity. With the introduction of new windows and an updated layout, the kitchen now functions as an open area seamlessly integrated with the living and dining zones, enhancing the home’s social character.

New floor plans for the ground and first floor of the Brussels residence renovation. — The updated floor plans show the strategic removal of walls to create flexible, light-filled living spaces.

Enhancing Natural Light

Special attention was given to improving the distribution of natural light throughout the house, with new windows installed featuring elegant gray aluminum frames. These additions helped introduce more daylight while maintaining visual harmony between the building’s traditional and contemporary architectural elements.

Improving the Kitchen Environment

In the kitchen, the window level was lowered to align with the countertop, allowing for better utilization of natural light and creating a bright, comfortable cooking environment. This adjustment reflects a focus on practical functionality, visual comfort, and aesthetic appeal.

Increasing Energy Efficiency

In addition to enhancing lighting, the new windows contributed to improved energy efficiency. The old single-glass units were replaced with double-glazed windows, reducing heat loss and enhancing thermal insulation. This upgrade also had a tangible impact in the basement, where new windows and a sturdy metal door replaced less efficient existing elements, boosting the building’s overall energy performance.

Modern open-plan kitchen in a renovated Brussels home featuring light wood cabinetry, white countertops, and integrated appliances. — The redesigned kitchen functions as a central hub, integrating light wood finishes with a functional open layout to enhance social interaction. (Image © Filip Dujardin)

Integrated custom cabinetry and shelving acting as a bridge between the kitchen and dining room. — Custom-designed cabinets provide practical storage while serving as an aesthetic link between different zones. (Image © Filip Dujardin)

Preserving the Structural Framework

The project focused on highlighting the house’s original structural framework, which serves as a fundamental element in the design. The goal was not only to maintain structural integrity but also to create a distinctive visual feature that guides movement and enhances spatial flow within the interior spaces.

Integrating Practical Solutions with Aesthetics

Custom-designed cabinets were seamlessly integrated throughout the ground floor, providing practical storage solutions without disrupting visual continuity. Moreover, these cabinets act as an aesthetic link between different areas of the home, enhancing daily functionality while adding a unique touch to the interior environment.

Architectural longitudinal sections showing the internal reorganization and spatial flow of the renovated Brussels house. — Detailed sections reveal the comprehensive internal reorganization aimed at improving natural light and vertical connectivity.

Preserving the Exterior Character

On the exterior, the renovation was limited to selective and carefully considered changes, aimed at maintaining harmony between the additions and the house’s original architecture. The gray aluminum window frames and carefully chosen materials contributed to a cohesive and elegant appearance, reflecting and preserving the building’s historical character while reinforcing the visual identity continuity of the home.

Outdoor terrace with green and white checkered tiles and a modern dining set against a red brick facade in Brussels. — Minimalist outdoor terrace design maintains the building’s original character while providing a contemporary leisure space. (Image © Filip Dujardin)

Close-up of the red brick facade featuring symmetrical windows with grey frames and a traditional gabled roof. — Strategic window placement and sizing maximize daylight while maintaining the building’s aesthetic harmony. (Image © Filip Dujardin)

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The project can be considered effective in reorganizing interior spaces and enhancing natural lighting, as the open-plan layout provided some flexibility in movement within the house and improved the connectivity between different areas. However, overall, the project remains somewhat limited in terms of architectural innovation, as it does not move beyond the traditional framework of a detached home and relies on relatively conventional design solutions. Removing interior walls and creating an open plan addresses certain spatial constraints, but it does not offer clear mechanisms for adapting to future changes in residents’ needs or for expanding the multifunctional use of spaces.

Additionally, despite improvements in lighting and energy efficiency, focusing primarily on windows and frames without a comprehensive reevaluation of ventilation and HVAC systems reduces the project’s potential to achieve fully integrated environmental efficiency. Highlighting the original structural framework alongside the new windows also introduces a slight contrast between old and contemporary elements, which may affect the sense of visual cohesion for some users.

Nevertheless, this project can serve as a practical example for understanding the challenges associated with renovating traditional homes, particularly regarding spatial distribution, natural light enhancement, and energy efficiency improvements within the constraints of budget and original design. It also provides a foundation upon which future, more flexible and innovative experiments can build, integrating modernity with traditional structure. For more insights and case studies, readers can explore related projects and archives.