Residential comfort at the forefront of uncommon urban renovation

From dilapidated hangar to sustainable and minimalist single-family home

In Etterbeek architect Laura Hottat has lived for 3 years in her renovated light-rich and "zen furnished" cityhome. With a thorough approach, including sustainable techniques, she transformed a former beer storage shed into a future-proof single-family home. Natural Daylight, healthy air and a stable indoor climate: the family geniust to the fullest.

The foundations, the floor slab and the 4 exterior walls, that's all that remains of the former barn in Etterbeek, in the middle of town. The oldest parts of the property dated back to around the 1800s. So the risk of unpleasant surprises was high. "Moreover, it gave us carte blanche for the new design," emphasizes architect Laura Hottat. "The large bay windows on the second floor enhance the incidence of light and contact with the outside."

The importance of healthy indoor air

From her experience renovating single-family homes, Laura knows the importance of proper ventilation better than anyone. "If you forget to include ventilation in your renovation plans, you risk moisture problems and even mold in your home," Laura says. "Our ventilation works, even if you don't notice it. That's just the power of a demand-controlled system. A good daily indicator of adequate ventilation is the laundry: it always dries quickly inside."

Fresh outside air enters through the Invisivent AIR Light-window ventilations. At the same time, the ventilation unit controls Healthbox 3.0 automatically adjusts the flow rates in each room, based on the moisture, CO₂-content and VOCs (odors). When threshold values are exceeded, a specific room is ventilated more. The window vents were given the same color as the window frames, and the compact ventilation unit is neatly concealed in the false ceiling, in line with the minimalist interior design.

Light-filled living without overheating in summer

Large fenestration draws in plenty of daylight but with it the heat of the sun. Therefore, to anticipate overheating in summer, the Fixscreen-cloth awnings invisibly incorporated into the existing facade. "The earlier techniques such as blinds are included in a remodeling project, the more beautiful the result," Laura adds as a tip. "The perfect integration of all techniques was crucial for a minimalist result that provides a soothing living environment."