Sofie House: A Green Concrete House Renovation Balancing Heritage and Contemporary Design

Restoring a Belgian Home with Character

Sofie House by MADAM architectuur is a sensitive and elegant green concrete house renovation located in the lush surroundings of Dilbeek, Belgium. Originally a character-filled home, the project involved a complete restoration of the existing structure, paired with a thoughtful extension that both respects the heritage and introduces a bold architectural expression.

The original house boasted well-crafted details: wooden floors, intricate moldings, and decorative timber elements framing doors, windows, and staircases. MADAM architectuur’s approach prioritized the careful preservation of these elements, treating the building’s past as a foundation upon which to build a spatially and materially rich future.

Green Concrete Extension Merges House and Landscape

On the north side of the house, the architects designed a new extension using green pigmented polished concrete—a material choice that seamlessly blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments. Strategically placed to capture both east and west light, the extension opens the interiors to wide views of the green landscape and nearby fields, grounding the architecture in its natural context.

A key intervention in the project is the creation of a rounded arch that physically connects the old house with the new addition. This arched passage involved a complex structural maneuver—removing a corner of the original house—to create fluid circulation between spaces. The result is a powerful gesture that reconciles the traditional with the modern.

Floating Terraces and Flowing Spaces

A wraparound terrace at the same level as the living areas forms a continuous path linking the main house, the extension, and a series of outdoor platforms. This configuration gives the entire ensemble a floating appearance, as though the house gently hovers above the surrounding greenery. The terrace’s surface, also rendered in green polished concrete, reinforces the material continuity that defines the project’s spatial logic.

The interplay between old and new is heightened by the contrast of the existing home’s reserved material palette and the vibrant green-glazed tiles cladding the extension. This dynamic tension between austere heritage and bold innovation gives Sofie House its distinct architectural identity.

A Home of Intimate Spaces and Changing Light

Inside, the home reveals a nuanced spatial experience. Rather than opting for an open-plan layout, MADAM architectuur composed a series of smaller, cozy rooms—each with its own orientation, mood, and view. The organization of space responds to natural light throughout the day, creating ever-changing atmospheres that enhance the domestic experience.

By combining a deep respect for historical elements with daring structural and material interventions, Sofie House redefines what a green concrete house renovation can be. It is a place where preservation and progress coexist, rooted in its Belgian landscape while pointing toward a contemporary architectural future.

All Photographs are works of Olmo Peeters