In Belgium, Twin Sisters With Distinct Styles Build Two Vibrant Homes—One Above the Other

Barbara Van de Velde is a bit of a minimalist. Her sister Lien is into bold patterns. They both live with their families in a new waterfront building with some architectural twists.

Sep 10, 2024 - 15:17

In Belgium, Twin Sisters With Distinct Styles Build Two Vibrant Homes—One Above the Other

Barbara Van de Velde is a bit of a minimalist. Her sister Lien is into bold patterns. They both live with their families in a new waterfront building with some architectural twists.

The Van de Velde family has always been close, but twins Barbara and Lien have taken it to a new level: The sisters live with their respective families in apartments stacked atop each other in a new building near Ghent’s historic center.

From the outside, the Van de Velde sisters’ apartments in Ghent appear seamless, contained within a new mixed-use building inspired by the work of Robert Mallet-Stevens and designed by Lien Van de Velde’s partner, Jeremy Godenir. But inside, it’s a different story: Each apartment reflects the style of its residents. "The true visionary was my mother, who bought the industrial building" that was on the site before, Lien explains. Though her mother wasn’t a designer, she could tell the property was ripe for reinvention. "The only one who was interested was me, the crazy architect," says Jeremy, who based his studio on the ground floor. When he and Barbara’s partner, Karel, mentioned to their in-laws that the site would be a lovely place to live, the wheels started to turn.
Photo: Yves Drieghe

As tourists and property developers slowly wake up to Ghent’s placid beauty, the Belgian college town still maintains its medieval village charm. This is a place where locals know their neighbors well enough to drop by for a cup of coffee on Sunday-morning walks. It’s a place where word travels quickly, where childhood friends grow old together, and where family is at the heart of it all. To some, the closeness and familiarity might feel stuffy or suffocating. To Lien and Barbara, it feels just like home.

In Lien and Jeremy’s home, the palette is limited but not minimal: Bright white, bold blue, dusky pink, and midnight black dominate the space. The four colors are woven throughout the apartment, creating a sense of continuity—and an elegant backdrop for Jeremy and Lien’s collection of artwork and furniture. They bought much of their decor and lighting from Belgian retailer Classo, including the mustard-yellow velvet Camaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini. The common areas and bedrooms take up the fourth floor, and a spiral staircase ascends from the living area to a guest suite, which opens to a rooftop terrace. — In Lien and Jeremy’s home, the palette is limited but not minimal: Bright white, bold blue, dusky pink, and midnight black dominate the space. The four colors are woven throughout the apartment, creating a sense of continuity—and an elegant backdrop for Jeremy and Lien’s collection of artwork and furniture.
Photo: Yves Drieghe

The twin sisters grew up a stone’s throw away in Schellebelle, a tiny town that was once crowned the village with the most beautiful name in all of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium. The Van de Veldes are a large family (Barbara and Lien have two additional sisters), none of whom have strayed too far afield. To this day, the twins’ parents host Sunday dinners in Schellebelle for all their daughters, and their partners and children too.