ANTWERP HOUSE FEATURES WORLD’S LARGEST PIVOTING WINDOW

The renovation of a traditional Belgian home that integrates futuristic elements

This town house in Antwerp, Belgium, by Sculp[IT] is truly built for the next century. With a facade that maintains its historicity and an interior emphasizing space and light, the contemporary glass rear of the house features the world’s largest (3 meters wide and 6 meters high) pivoting window. Breaking down the back section of the building allowed views of the garden from the different floors, which are connected by a triplex in the new rear extension. The new ground floor features a kitchen with concrete tabletops, an island that can be moved onto the terrace and an informal eating area, as well as ample storage places and a garage. Dining and sitting space is found on the older first floor, with a new section incorporating a suspended office. On the second, third and fourth floors are two large bedrooms with bathrooms in between that combine the old style of the structure with a new approach. The bathroom and bedroom areas feature “en enfilade” double doors – a term referring to different rooms sharing one view. Construction materials used include polished concrete, which coats the inside and outside terrace on the same level, and painted masonry for the walls. The laser-cut, tailor-made windows use insulated glass from Saint Gobain and weigh two tons with their frames.