Lies Verwimp and Gitte Jansen’s slender townhouse in the Belgian town of Lier was built in the 17th century. But its history is far from illustrious. Originally a blacksmith’s forge, it later served as offices, a tattoo parlour and, more recently, a computer shop. Any original features – plasterwork, panelling – were swept away during decades of utilitarian knock-throughs. When Lies and Gitte first visited in 2019, lured by the intact beauty of the gabled stone facade with its elaborate carvings, all that remained of the interior were the quintessentially Flemish rosy-brick walls.
This suited the couple, who are both teachers in a local secondary school. Instead of attempting to recreate a lost heritage, they have capitalised on the raw, industrial feel of the space. They left rough brickwork exposed and installed the steel-framed door which opens on to the hallway. A punchy palette – black, pinks, purples – is defiantly modern. “We wanted any changes we made to look new – like deliberate interventions – not a pastiche of the past,” says Lies.
