House DOORN by Luchtschip Architectuur – Innovative Extension Design in Ghent, Belgium

House DOORN, designed by the Ghent-based architecture studio Luchtschip Architectuur, exemplifies the art of thoughtful urban home extensions. Completed in 2020, this 120 m² semi-detached house renovation responds to a modern couple’s desire for more usable space, enhanced garden connection, and abundant natural light. Situated in Ghent, Belgium, the project transforms a compact existing home into a functional, visually appealing residence while respecting privacy and optimizing outdoor areas.

The original house presented spatial challenges: the ground floor had to accommodate non-residential functional areas like a bicycle shed, laundry and ironing room, storage, and cloakroom, alongside office, kitchen, dining, and living spaces. Rather than opting for a traditional Flemish rear extension, Luchtschip Architectuur introduced a clever L-shaped volume on the garden side, integrating kitchen, dining, and small office areas. This strategic design maximizes daylight, ensures a visual connection with the garden, and positions functional spaces towards the street for privacy.

The new extension embraces the existing brick structure, carefully placed to create a usable width for the kitchen and dining areas while preserving as much city garden space as possible. Original window openings in the existing walls are maximized, ensuring seamless visual and functional flow between old and new volumes. Inside, a continuous concrete floor unifies the entire ground level, while the timber-frame facade of the new volume, finished in birch plywood, offers a warm contrast to the white plastered original home.

The exterior of the extension uses a light timber frame, extensive glazing in white window frames, and wooden cladding that naturally grays over time. The aluminum roof edge subtly defines the new volume, creating a modern, abstract “wrapper” around the existing red brick home. Functional spaces like the bicycle shed are clearly legible through a galvanized steel wire facade, which will eventually be softened by creeping greenery.

House DOORN perfectly balances modern living requirements with sustainable design, natural light, and spatial efficiency, making it a standout example of urban home extensions in Belgium.

All the photographs are works of Johnny Umans