Merckx-Holvoet designs minimalist seaside penthouse in Knokke-Heist

Antwerp-based architecture studio Merckx-Holvoet has completed V Penthouse, a minimalist coastal retreat in the Belgian seaside resort of Knokke-Heist. Designed for a couple with two young children, the penthouse serves as a weekend and holiday pied-à-terre, offering a counterbalance to their busy urban life. The architects, Marc Merckx and Sébastien Holvoet, opened up the interior to the surrounding landscape by framing compositions towards large windows that provide long views of the beach and North Sea. Materiality draws from local natural colors and the shifting hues of the sea: walls and floors of main living spaces are clad in sandblasted Travertino Noce stone, while ceiling plaster gives a subtly sandy finish. A solid oak staircase anchors the home, and bespoke millwork appears in the kitchen. A balcony extends the living space; when glazing is fully retracted, indoors and outdoors merge. The architects describe the project as 'a quiet extension of the coast itself, shaped as much by atmosphere as by function.' The penthouse blends contemporary chic with the glamour Knokke-Heist is known for.