Modern bungalow exterior featuring white brick walls, a blue tiled cylindrical tower, and orange sliding doors with a child standing at the entrance.

Modern Bungalow Project: Rethinking Spatial Distribution and Historical Identity

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Modern Bungalow Redesign

Architects have redesigned a mid-century bungalow to align with the contemporary lifestyle of the family. The focus was on integrating the home’s traditional elements with modern touches that enhance comfort and daily functionality. This approach reflects innovative Architecture principles.

The Vertical Tower: An Innovative Architectural Solution

One of the most prominent interventions was the addition of a slender vertical element, a tower clad in blue ceramic tiles. This tower not only adds an aesthetic touch but also improves natural lighting and enhances the sense of space and openness within the multi-level staircase that connects the home’s two main floors. The design demonstrates creative Design strategies.

Enhancing Movement and Connectivity Between Levels

The vertical tower became an intelligent solution for the main circulation hub at the heart of the floor plan, facilitating movement between floors. Additionally, the design of the offset horizontal slabs allows them to meet smoothly, enhancing visual flow and creating a cohesive Projects experience.

View of Bungalow Daniel from a distance behind a tall green hedge, showing the top of the blue tower and white brick facade.
The building maintains a low profile within the neighborhood, with only the iconic blue tower hinting at its modern transformation. (Image © Stijn Bollaert)
Modern bungalow seen through lush green trees, showcasing white brickwork and a distinctive blue tiled vertical volume.
The design maintains a strong dialogue with the surrounding garden, framed by mature pine trees. (Image © Stijn Bollaert)
Modern bungalow exterior with white brick walls, a blue tiled tower, orange sliding doors, and a child standing at the entrance.
The renovation balances historical mid-century elements with bold new interventions like the glazed blue tile tower. (Image © Stijn Bollaert)

Distribution of Functions Across Levels

The architectural design of the upper levels separates the sleeping areas from the living spaces, ensuring greater privacy and comfort for the residents. In contrast, the semi-basement floor accommodates practical and additional living functions, such as the kitchen, storage areas, and daily activity rooms, providing an integrated functional organization throughout the home. This careful planning aligns with Interior Design practices.

Windows: A Blend of Traditional and Contemporary

The windows were renovated using rust-colored aluminum, referencing the home’s original wooden assembly. This detail complements the visual harmony with the tower’s deep blue hue, as well as the surrounding greenery, enhancing the connection between the building and its natural environment while imparting a sense of warmth and balance. Material choices were informed by Building Materials and Material Datasheets.

Architectural floor plan of Bungalow Daniel showing the spatial distribution of bedrooms and living areas.
The redesigned floor plan optimizes the transition between private sleeping quarters and open social areas. (Courtesy of FELT architecture & design)
Architectural section drawing showing the split-level interior and the vertical blue tower of the bungalow.
This section reveals the complex interior volumes and the relationship between different floor levels. (Courtesy of FELT architecture & design)

Interior Renewal: Blending Tradition with Modernity

Inside the house, the decor underwent a complete overhaul, drawing inspiration from the warmth and clarity characteristic of mid-century designs. The new interior closely reflects the villa’s original identity and spatial qualities, while preserving the historical essence of the place. This process is highlighted in Archive studies of similar projects.

Contemporary Details and Color Language

At the same time, contemporary detailing and a carefully curated color palette provide renewed visual coherence, making the home feel modern without losing its connection to the past. This balance between old and new allows for a reinterpretation of traditional Architecture Competitions ideas, appreciated in a fresh and innovative way.

Preserving the Original Identity

The villa’s original character and identity remain intact, while the precise contemporary addition offers a new perspective that enhances the understanding and appreciation of the original design’s aesthetics in a modern context. The project has also been noted in Top News for its architectural approach.

Minimalist white corridor with wooden doors and a bright red rocking chair at the end of the hallway.
Simple materials and a pop of color define the rhythmic interior circulation. (Image © Stijn Bollaert)
Minimalist interior featuring a bold mustard yellow staircase and integrated cabinetry under a wooden ceiling.
A sculptural yellow staircase serves as a functional focal point, bridging the split-level spaces of the home. (Courtesy of FELT architecture & design)
White brick bungalow facade with a large square window reflecting a green garden and pine trees.
window placements invite the outdoors in, reinforcing the bungalow’s historical connection to nature. (Image © Stijn Bollaert)
Outdoor terrace of a modern bungalow with wooden garden furniture, white walls, and a blue tiled tower.
The terrace acts as an outdoor room, extending the living space into the garden. (Courtesy of FELT architecture & design)

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

It is evident that the project offers a clear architectural experience in redistributing spaces and integrating historical identity with contemporary elements, providing practical solutions to improve interior lighting and movement between levels. However, some design decisions may raise questions regarding flexibility and adaptability for future uses, particularly concerning the vertical tower that dominates the central circulation axis. Additionally, the focus on aesthetic details and the color palette can sometimes reduce the clarity of certain functional areas within the semi-basement spaces. Discussions on these aspects are available in Discussion.

Despite these reservations, the project can serve as a reference for studying how contemporary additions can be integrated into small historic buildings, and how simple ideas, such as offset slabs or a vertical element, can influence the circulation experience and sense of space. The project also provides material for reflection on balancing aesthetic and functional aspects when redesigning traditional homes to meet modern living requirements, as documented in Research articles.

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