During the renovation of a 17th century gentleman's house in the flemish region of belgium, the adjoining property, then an abandoned school, went up for sale and was promptly purchased. since the building bordered the client's garden, the idea of a panoramic swimming pool became the optimal program for the schoolhouse roof. the dmvA design required a system of columns and beams created the skeleton inserted into the brick structure to support the pristine white-walled basin.
The pool's building systems also opened the remaining space of the building to become a livable relaxation space with a ground floor open kitchen and a mixed use first level. the immaculate planes white-out the rustic brick of the surrounding structures, save for the warm hues of the roof. the norbertine masonry of the grimbergen abbey tower cuts into the otherwise uninterrupted sky above the pool wall edge.
client: mr. and mrs. kegels – de caluwé
team: david driesen, tom verschueren, christine loos, sofie buggenhout         
general contractor: harry hendrickx (carcase works) – vorsselmans (aluminium) – polyureau (jbs)
constructional engineer: util
built area: 206 m2 (polyvalente space) en 103 m2 (swimming pool and roof terrace)