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Who hasn’t dreamed of bringing their ideal home to life after sketching it on a piece of paper? On the eastern side of Brussels, interior architect Pieter Peulen has made his fantasy come true with this concrete structure, directly inspired by the architectural work of Tadao Andō. Someone taking risks to follow the momentum of his desire inspires us at The Socialite Family. Especially when it turns out to be more than faithful to the precepts of their Japanese mentor. Here, his taste for geometric forms, his work with light and the dialogue he establishes between architecture and nature are meticulously applied. Creating futuristic spaces that come as a surprise to the eye in the heart of the Belgian countryside. A sense of purity pushed to the limit, which has succeeded in captivating a significant number of aesthetes and neophytes on Instagram. And this is where the thirty-year-old has fun, using his keen photographic eye to depict “scenes from his daily life” under the amused gaze of his companion Joeri Evers. A true window of creativity and openness to the world, Instagram is where he posts short videos where every angle and every detail is valued. Sunlight streams through the large windows and caresses the items they display from the first floor to the patio and the floor below. “Works of art” in wood, travertine, leather and rattan that the couple find “online or in second-hand and charity shops” and cherish for their industrial and organic lines. So many vintage elements. And the two designers take great pleasure in seeing them from one room to another in their home, making living here an authentic design and architectural experience.
Pieter and Joeri, could you please introduce yourselves?
Pieter, interior designer and photographer, and Joeri, web developer. We are married and live with our dog Memphis in our concrete house in the Belgian countryside, not far from Hasselt.
What is your background?
I studied interior design but gradually turned towards photography. I just felt more joy from presenting something than from creating it.
Please tell us about your childhood. Where did you grow up – and how did that influence the way your tastes developed?
I grew up in a very boring small town in the countryside. I was an ordinary youngster, but the Internet opened up new horizons for me. I was on MySpace, Tumbler, Pinterest, Instagram, and so on.
You both work in the creative field. Which designers and artists influence your daily work?
There are so many. As interior designers/photographers and web developers, we are very aware of our surroundings, including graphic design in Joeri’s case. I think it would be unfair to choose anyone specifically because it’s the combination of them all that inspires us. Currently, we’re very much inspired by Belgian modernist architects!
I studied interior design but gradually turned towards photography. I just felt more joy from presenting something than from creating it.
Pieter, you designed this house yourself with geometric lines reminiscent of the brutalist movement. Where did your inspiration come from?
We really liked the combination of concrete and wood, as can often be seen in the work of Tadao Ando. So you could say he was my main source of inspiration. So far, we haven’t had the chance to see many of his works in real life, but we’re planning a trip to Japan next year to make up for this. Then we will see how successful we have been in recreating his work in Belgium (laughs).
How is the traffic flow between the different spaces arranged here?
Our entire interior was designed around a central point: the patio. It’s the heart of the house where all the daylight comes in!
How do the interior and exterior spaces fit together?
I enjoy being able to see every space in the house from another room. In the evening, I like to turn on mood lighting everywhere; it makes everywhere feel really comfortable.
Tell us how you chose your furniture.
We used to say that our house is a museum and that the objects we collect here are the works of art. I think the mid-twentieth century is the movement that is most on display here. In particular, many items by Italian designers. Our interior is a synthesis of what we find online or in second-hand and charity shops. An orderly, ever-changing combination where things come and go over time.
We really liked the combination of concrete and wood, as can often be seen in the work of Tadao Ando. So you could say he was my main source of inspiration.
Pieter, you portray yourself on Instagram in the various spaces in this futuristic setting, and you have a keen photographic eye. Can you describe the extent of the content you are sharing?
Instagram is no more than an entertainment space for me. I don’t take it particularly seriously. I share simple scenes from my life each day. When the sun lights up a beautiful piece, I take the opportunity to capture a picture without any tricks. I think I’m just spontaneously sharing what I see and what catches my eye.
What does The Socialite Family mean to you?
I’ve been following The Socialite Family for some time! I like to take a look at these diverse people’s homes because it always says something about who they are, about who they really are.
Where are we likely to find you in the near future?
I must say I feel a very strong desire to create a place of our own again. So maybe you’ll see us there?
We used to say that our house is a museum and that the objects we collect here are the works of art.
Our interior is a synthesis of what we find online or in second-hand and charity shops. An orderly, ever-changing combination where things come and go over time.
Photography : Valerio Geraci – Text : Juliette Bruneau @thesocialitefamily
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