From their studio in Belgium, Benoît Vandeputte and Hannes Van Damme run a practice in which they strongly believe that interiors and architecture should be made inseparable. Located in a stately townhouse in the center of Izegem, they work with their multidisciplinary team on a wide range of tailor-made architecture and interior projects, which are defined by integration and the highest attention to detailing.
The duo behind Van Damme - Vandeputten Architects oversee every layer of the entire architectural process, from initial idea to final completion. “We always work toward a total concept,” explains Benoît. “From architecture and interior to detailing and material choices, in order to create a coherent and refined overall concept for our clients.”
While reluctant to pin their work to a single style, he speaks of timelessness as a guiding principle. “What matters to us is a feeling of warmth and domesticity, which we often achieve through the use of natural materials.” Whether it’s a house or an office, that atmosphere of feeling at home is the common thread in all their projects. In material terms, this often translates to consistent choices of durable and timeless materials. “We often use woods, natural stone, refined metal accents and more recently, working with ceramics.”
Benoît too notices more often that clients often engage with platforms like Pinterest. “Clients come in with inspiration boards, which can act as a good starting point. But it’s much more important to visit places where you can hold materials in your hands. That tactile experience is essential.”
For Benoît, the tactile approach is one of the reasons he values The Hub a place where you can physically engage with materials. Once introduced to the space via Woodstoxx during a project meeting in Ghent, he now regularly meets clients at The Hub’s Ghent and Antwerp locations. “We use The Hub as a place to meet with clients, to build mood boards and to exchange ideas efficiently mainly because we can bring a lot of materials together on the table.”
The material library is one of his favourite spots for active working sessions, but also the pink restaurants in both locations serve as a great setting, he notes. “We’ve had lunch meetings with clients and even a few teambuilding moments there,” he says. Furthermore, Benoît adds, “clients are usually quite surprised by how many materials are on display and are always very pleased with the level of hospitality. We often stay for hours, so it ends up being a very pleasant experience every time.”
