Household Practice by FELT Architecture & Design: A Harmonious Mixed-Use Urban Retreat in Ghent
Household Practice in Ghent blends residential, yoga studio, and café within a lush garden, using wood, glass, and brick harmoniously.
Located in Ghent, Belgium, this mixed-use residential project by FELT Architecture & Design, completed in 2022, occupies 345 m² and demonstrates a thoughtful integration of contemporary living and functional urban spaces. The design carefully balances aesthetic appeal with practical requirements, employing high-quality materials from renowned manufacturers such as AGROB BUCHTAL, Wienerberger, Eternit, Fermacell, Firmax, Sapa Building System International NV, and Sicis to create a refined interplay of textures and finishes. The project emphasizes material authenticity, subtle detailing, and spatial fluidity, resulting in an environment that is both visually engaging and comfortable for daily use. Through the lens of photographer Stijn Bollaert, the architecture is revealed in its full context, highlighting the careful attention to light, form, and the surrounding urban fabric of Ghent.
In the heart of Ghent’s densely built urban fabric, Household Practice by FELT Architecture & Design transforms a previously overlooked alleyway into a dynamic mixed-use architectural gem. Once the site of thirteen ordinary garage boxes, this irregularly contoured parcel now hosts a contemporary ensemble combining a single-family residence, a yoga studio, and a welcoming café.
Thoughtful Spatial Design and Site Integration
FELT Architecture & Design approached the project with meticulous spatial foresight, placing two primary volumes along the periphery of the plot to maximize existing lofty partition walls. These volumes are elegantly interconnected with delicate glass appendages, creating transparency and fluidity while framing a lush city garden at the core. The design skillfully balances public and private realms, allowing the café and yoga studio to engage directly with the street while preserving the seclusion of the residential spaces.
The configuration strategically responds to the plot's orientation, creating captivating sightlines toward the garden and ensuring intimate, tranquil living areas. Visitors encounter glimpses of verdant greenery from the alley, while discreet entrances define the studio and residence, maintaining the architectural cohesion of the ensemble.
Harmonious Indoor-Outdoor Connectivity
Both the residential and studio volumes feature dual-level occupancy, offering functional separation while promoting fluid circulation. The dwelling itself connects seamlessly with the garden through a large south-facing glass façade, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. A cascading staircase, positioned within a light-filled void, subtly defines the living zones, while square apertures in the flanking facades frame serene garden views, introducing a sense of calm and greenery into the interior.
Materiality and Architectural Character
The project emphasizes sustainable and tactile materials, with prefabricated wooden components providing structural clarity and warmth. Inside, wooden ceilings and terracotta flooring create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Outside, a chippered beige brick façade lends a monolithic elegance, harmonizing with Ghent's historic urban fabric. The combination of glass, wood, concrete, and brick ensures a refined aesthetic that respects both the neighborhood context and contemporary architectural language.
Through its careful orchestration of volumes, materiality, and urban engagement, Household Practice exemplifies how mixed-use architecture can enhance city life. By merging residential comfort with social and wellness spaces, FELT Architecture & Design creates a contemporary urban sanctuary that balances privacy, community interaction, and environmental integration.
All photographs are works of Stijn Bollaert
