Location: Mechelen, Belgium.

Architect: Graux & Baeyens architecten.

This house was constructed on a deep, narrow lot with close neighbours, but it also had a wide-open view of the canal and the fields behind it. In order to give the residents privacy and a sense of security, each story has been superimposed at a slightly different angle and set back from the one before it. This fan-like flow inward also produces a whimsical aesthetic that contrasts with the nine-meter-high building’s ominous look. The fan form also aims to create as little of a shadow on the neighbours as possible. In turn, the cracks in the concrete walls make fascinating entrances to the garden.

Photo Credit: Filip Dujardin, Dennis De Smet