August

Architecture A modern-day sanctuary

Architecture A modern-day sanctuary

The site is a combination of five heritage-listed buildings. The big challenge, overcome by Vincent Van Duysen, was...

linking them together in an optimal way for flow and a unified concept without falling foul of heritage restrictions. The nuns’ former chapel is now the main lounge and bar area. There are two terraced townhouses with gardens adjacent to the site. The building behind the chapel, which was the nuns’ living quarters, contains most of the guestrooms, the kitchen, and a library.

Interior design Vincent Van Duysen

Vincent Van Duysen’s pared-down aesthetic and use of muted colors allow the soul of these historical buildings to shine through.

Having worked for Molteni&Co, Kvadrat, B&B Italia, and Flos, Van Duysen was able to collaborate with the best in the business to custom design every item—from the furniture down to the cutlery. “It’s a challenge to design without too much ostentation in a building that already has a strong identity,” he says of the project. “Yet I still needed to design a hotel that has its own unique features.”