She Built a Surprising Home in the Shell of an Old Belgian Barn
OYO Architects carved a massive slice out of the roof to bring in light, views, and greenery, while landscape designer Denis Dujardin added an unusual garden with a rainwater recycling pond.
OYO Architects carved a massive slice out of the roof to bring in light, views, and greenery, while landscape designer Denis Dujardin added an unusual garden with a rainwater recycling pond.
When Lynn first saw this ruined barn in the Belgian countryside, it wasn’t the structure itself that captured her—it was the setting. "You can see right out to the horizon, and sometimes I even spot hares," she says. "There’s something so calming about the natural surroundings here."
In Pepingen, Belgium, OYO Architects converted a dilapidated barn into a daring contemporary home. Landscape designer Denis Dujardin played a key role in shaping the setting.
Karen Van der Biest
She had been searching for a property for months, when her cousin suggested that she check out a disused agricultural structure. The early 20th-century barn’s traditional brick facade was intact, but the empty interior was in very poor condition.
Smitten by the breathtaking view and opportunity to create a garden, she purchased the property in 2018 and, based on the recommendation of her sister, embarked on a renovation with OYO Architects, a collaborative studio with offices in Barcelona and Ghent.
Her checklist was simple: three bedrooms—one for herself, one for her daughter, and another for guests. Natural light, open space, and a connection to nature were nice-to-haves.
OYO largely fulfilled much of her wish list with a singular bold stroke—by carving a triangular slice out of the structure’s pitched roof. This gesture left the barn’s street-facing historic brick facade intact, while opening up the rear of the building to embrace an elevated terrace and a landscaped garden.
A triangular cutaway in the barn’s volume creates a transitional space between indoors
and outdoors and fills the interior with natural light.
Karen Van der Biest
Inside, the void created a light-filled interior patio separated from the living areas by glass windows and doors. "We tried to balance the need for a homely and secure feeling inside, without losing the incredible views toward the landscape that were carefully channelled through the old and new window openings," says Eva Delrue, the project architect at OYO.
The home’s layout presents a similar daring yet playful geometry of double-height rooms, mezzanines, and quiet little nooks. A custom-built staircase designed by Atelier Manus connects the bedrooms, kitchen, and living areas. Painted in green, it reinforces the home’s aesthetic and technical reverence to nature and the environment.
"Every moment feels special in its own way, but I particularly love when the sunlight hits the walls just right, creating these beautiful patterns," says the homeowner, Lynn.
Karen Van der Biest
See the full story on Dwell.com: She Built a Surprising Home in the Shell of an Old Belgian Barn
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