Maison Fosse
Manhay, Belgium

A collaboration with Jahnke-Ledant Architects of Durbuy, Belgium.

A vacation home in the rural Belgian countryside; the site occupies a moderately sloping grassy hillside with an east-facing exposure.  The owner’s brief required a vacation home which takes advantage of the elevated hillside views of the surrounding countryside to the east while creating a swimming pool and patio on the west side of the home.  The main living space was elevated to the upper level, with a walkout patio terrace on the warm afternoon side of the home.  The lower sleeping and mechanical level is nestled into the hillside to create quiet, sheltered darker sleeping retreat areas.

The pool patio is formed from a reduction in the upper building mass, creating a very unique, semi outdoor swimming experience at one end of the pool.  A cozy, sheltered patio exists within this zone for al fresco dining and shaded lounging on hotter sunny days.  The patio extends to the south beyond the roof overhang for sunning and to create a viewpoint terminus which looks out over the rolling Belgian countryside.

A native stone clad retaining wall begins outside the home, holding back the upper yard area beyond the swimming pool.  The wall continues through the entire building, first forming the back wall of the car port, then defining the lower level entry area, then follows visitors down the hallway leading to the guest suites at the in-ground sleeping level.

Local design covenants required a gable roof form.  The simple asymmetrical roof form was extruded for the full length of the structure and is expressed through vaulted volumes at public spaces within the home as well as above the pool patio.

Eric assisted in the schematic design and design development phases of this home by Jahnke-Ledant Architects.  Construction begins in 2024.

Project Credits