Residence RBK by Britt Van Namen

In the Belgian province of Antwerp, Britt Van Namen realised a carefully balanced and tactile interior within the shell of a newly built thatched-roof villa. Residence RBK was designed around the life of one man, with ample room to welcome and entertain guests. In addition to three generously sized guest bedrooms, an entire wellness level was created underground. The striking centrepiece is the majestic spiral staircase in walnut and travertine, which sets the tone from the moment you enter: a living experience balanced between openness and intimacy, robustness and refinement.

How do you create a sense of intimacy in a villa where “large” is an understatement? For Britt Van Namen, Residence RBK became an exercise in scale and refinement. The Belgian interior design studio is renowned for its warm, minimalist style, in which a soft colour palette, organic curves and tactile finishes take centre stage – a clear signature translated here into a new-build thatched villa of more than 600 square metres. The answer lay in a carefully considered balance between openness and shelter. Materials such as walnut, travertine, soft textiles, tinted glass and bronze accents guide you through the home: from the entrance through the living area and kitchen, with a hidden door leading to the office, down to the underground level featuring a wellness area, gym, bar, wine room and home cinema. Upstairs, the master suite offers panoramic views, a private terrace, fireplace and en-suite bathroom, alongside three guest suites, each with its own bathroom. Grandeur takes on a layered meaning in Residence RBK: it refers not only to the refined and luxurious detailing, but also to the sense of space and the way the home embraces both its owner and his guests. Although the villa’s architecture makes an impressive statement, warmth can be felt down to the smallest details.

Sheltered within openness

Undoubtedly majestic is the sculptural spiral staircase anchoring the entrance hall. Starting in travertine, with rounded steps and an elegant walnut finish, this striking feature leads to the upper floor. The same curves recur throughout Residence RBK in the bespoke joinery: from the monolithic timber portal giving access to the master suite, to the kitchen cabinetry and even the outdoor kitchen. In this way, Britt Van Namen leaves her mark on the project with understated elegance. And although the client deliberately chose her distinctive feminine touch, it is balanced throughout the home with a deliberate dose of robustness. Think of painting techniques with texture, tinted glass, and fluted travertine as a kitchen backsplash. The result is a contemporary-classic interior that seamlessly complements the rural-modern character of the architecture. This synergy between interior and architecture is characteristic of Van Namen’s portfolio, as are the fluid transitions between inside and out. Panoramic windows with ultra-slim profiles, ceilings that continue outdoors in the same finish, and sightlines that repeatedly frame the centuries-old tree in the landscape all reinforce this experience. An outdoor fireplace for al fresco dining forms a natural extension of the interior living spaces. In this way, the strong evolution towards cohesive indoor-outdoor living is consciously embraced throughout the projects of this Belgian interior architecture studio.

SAVVY x Britt Van Namen: international press relations
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Photography: Cafeine.