The Bungalow Sint-Martens-Latem renovation by Decancq Vercruysse updates a 1960s modernist home in the Belgian town of Sint-Martens-Latem while preserving its original horizontal form and relationship to the surrounding woodland. The single-storey house retains its low roofline and expansive glazing, with interventions focused on improving spatial flow and domestic functionality rather than altering the external silhouette. The architects reorganised the interior layout to better separate private and communal areas while maintaining visual continuity across the plan.
In terms of the living, dining, and kitchen spaces -- they are arranged as a continuous zone oriented toward the garden, reinforcing the house’s connection to its site. The bedrooms and service spaces are repositioned to increase privacy and daylight access. Material choices remain restrained, combining white-painted brick, timber surfaces, and neutral finishes to echo the bungalow’s mid-century character.
Fireplace-Centered Retro Bungalows
Bungalow Sint-Martens-Latem is Renovated by Decancq Vercruysse
Trend Themes
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Fireplace-centered Retro Bungalows — A renewed focus on centrally anchored fireplaces positions hearths as spatial and social anchors that reconcile vintage character with contemporary open-plan living.
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Preservation-forward Modernist Renovation — Conserving original silhouettes and horizontality while reconfiguring interiors highlights approaches that prioritize architectural memory alongside programmatic updates.
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Seamless Indoor-outdoor Living — Continuous living, dining, and kitchen zones oriented toward gardens emphasize an integrated relationship between interior plans and surrounding landscapes.
Industry Implications
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Residential Architecture — Growing client interest in sensitive mid-century renovations suggests service models that combine historic conservation expertise with flexible interior planning.
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Sustainable Building Materials — The restrained use of timber, white brick, and neutral finishes points to demand for low-impact materials that faithfully replicate period textures and tones.
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Smart Home Integration for Heritage Homes — Repositioned service spaces and preserved glazing patterns create conditions for unobtrusive retrofit technologies that respect original aesthetics.