Brutalist Duplex Apartment in de Riverside Tower by Studio Okami Architects

The Riverside Tower is a substantial-increase improvement from the early 70s made by Leon Stynen & Paul De Meyer, superbly located in the bend of the river Scheldt, a stone’s toss from the metropolis heart of Antwerp. It is listed here, on the 13th ground, that founding companion Bram Van Cauter of Studio Okami Architects renovated a duplex to match the brutalist tower which he calls his property.

When acquiring a new business office area for Studio Okami on the 10th flooring, the operator wanted to promote his remaining homes in the developing of which this distinctive duplex was 1. The Riverside Tower consists of 20 floors with residences various between 90, 150, and 200 sqm. The exception is the 13th flooring the place duplex apartments variety a unique format with an internal corridor connecting both double lift shafts.

Studio Okami tore down the walls of this 5 bed room apartment and stripped all the layers of finishing from the walls and ceilings revealing the superbly textured concrete. The tough concrete was sandblasted and just after all the dust settled Bram, Doris, and their pet dog señor Peña were left with a 230sqm open program one bedroom loft room divided about the 13th and 14th ground.

The tough concrete is balanced out with a peach-colored liquid ground trough-out. The concrete partitions sort the great backdrop for Doris’s art assortment, current holes and plugs outline the situation of each artwork. The handful of brick partitions ended up cemented and specified an authentic search by throwing minimal stones into the settling cement. On getting into the condominium you are greeted by double-peak pivoting home windows overlooking the harbor and neighboring forest. The house is conceived as an enjoyment location with kitchen appliances tucked away in a Donald Judd-motivated wall device.

The kitchen island is made as a sculpture in the place when out of use, but hugely purposeful when in full chef-manner. Transforming the apartment at 45m previously mentioned floor amount intended all bespoke furniture desired to in shape the inner elevator defining the optimum dimension of the island and pressured us to weld and paint the metal blue spiral stair and passerelle on web-site, a work properly executed by Stielatelier. The new staircase was moved to the far corner of the area making it possible for for a better stream and reconnection with the views from the major home windows when ascending to the upper flooring.

This 14th flooring is a lot more secluded and defined by various up-standing concrete beams, sheltering the bed room and review. On the Eastside of the apartment, a living space with a residence office overlooks the skyline of the city of Antwerp. The upper flooring is structured by a specialized block housing the rest room, storage, washer/dryer, and dressing.

Within the toilet, the peach-coloured coating is stretched on to the walls furnishing a spacious watertight mobile with double showers, sinks, and a bathtub. The slick partitions are in sharp contrast with the overpassing rough concrete beams. At night the lights from the city and the harbor build a cozy vibe when the bathroom radiates a good orange hue when in use.

Not owning a visitor room was a consensus selection and an straightforward one to make as we are fortunate enough to household family members and visitors in a secondary duplex on the identical ground which accommodates Doris’s artwork gallery and B&B, giving close friends and family members with the complete Riverside Tower experience. An working experience it is as the constructing can be witnessed as a co-property avant la lettre, a vertical road wherever all neighbors know each other and communal areas like a washing spot, carwash, and outsized entrance corridor overlooking the communal garden, increase social interactions.

The Riverside Tower matches in with the relaxation of Leon Stynen & Paul De Meyer’s outstanding oeuvre which include amazing functions like the BP Making, Church of Saint Rita, Peter Pan University, and deSingel.

Architects: Studio Okami Architects Spot : 230 m² 12 months : 2021 Photographs :Matthijs van der Burgt Makers : Hansgrohe, BTicino, Grohe, Novy, Wedi, Zangra, Innovus Lead Architect : Van Cauter Bram Indoor Design : Stiel Atelier Demolition : Afbraak Johan Janssens