- Interior
- Architecture & development
For Studio Anja Vissers, a home must satisfy two characteristics: it must be practical and give a sense of tranquillity. Only in this way can you create a holiday feeling in your home, which is the ultimate goal of the (interior) architect. In this villa, a beautiful residence near the Scheldt with impressive views, that dream becomes reality.
Even as a child, Anja Vissers told her parents that she wanted to draw beautiful houses later. After long insistence, she was allowed to go to drawing school, after which she combined her studies with night school in interior design, and eventually studied architecture. Meanwhile, the (interior) architect has grown into a well-known name, who attaches great importance to the practicality of homes. For this reason, the design process always proceeds from inside to outside and the form is subordinate to the functionality of the design. Vissers finds inspiration in the work of various architects, from John Pawson to Le Corbusier, Tado Ando and Marc Corbiau. She is also a big fan of Belgian architect Bart Lens, because he beautifully combines historically valuable buildings with contemporary architecture. 
Some clients dream of living in a certain place for years and are finally lucky enough to secure the suitable house or building plot in that location. This was the case with the residents of this villa, who had long had the dream of living next to a nature reserve bordering the Scheldt. Since they have a beautiful view, the house had to be completely open at the back, of course. The proximity to the Scheldt made it necessary for the house to be built on stilts. Interestingly, the plot slopes downwards, so there are two storeys on the street side and three at the back. In other words, there is an extra floor in the garden. As a result, the ground floor serves mainly as additional living space for when friends come over. 
Light and spaciousness were combined through the use of soft colours and large windows
As for the materials and colour palette, Petersen's Kolumba facing brick was chosen. The pointing is set back for the ribbon joints and flat-faced for the butt joints. Dark brown Acoya wood was chosen for the cladding. That warmth from outside was carried through to inside, where we find mainly natural stone, wood and terracotta. This was a wish of the residents, who wanted warm, natural materials. As in all their projects, the studio was involved in the entire process here, from designing the home to developing all the bespoke cabinets and choosing the right curtains, furniture and decoration. To complete the holiday feel, light and spaciousness were combined through the use of soft colours and large windows. For the garden, they collaborated with a garden architect so that the client was completely relieved in that aspect too. 
What does the future hold for the architect? Vissers is certainly not thinking of quitting for the time being. ‘I want to continue as long as I like it,’ she tells us. ‘My job often involves a lot of stress, but if clients tell me that they feel completely at home after only two weeks, or that their house is very practically furnished, then my work has been successful.’
Photography by Cafeine