The making of...From smithy to living, working, and meeting place. The renovation!

At Studiomie the boundaries between inside and outside blur.

Here, living, working and meeting merge into one another.

Think out of the box, live in it.

In 2007, we bought an industrial building on Bomastraat in Ghent. Our children were still toddlers, and we were eager to take on this challenge. And a challenge it certainly was. A renovation without stress, fatigue, or questions? No, unfortunately not, even here it was sometimes blood, sweat, and tears. But often interspersed with joy, drive, challenges, and a great deal of enthusiasm to make something beautiful. We spent hours here before we could move. Every brick that was taken down was cleaned, collected on pallets, moved, and moved again. Trenches were dug, rubble cleared, sections of roof were cut away, and step by step, everything was rebuilt.

Four walls and a roof, a surface of 666m2, south-facing and a beautiful facade was the starting point.

We were spoiled for choice; there were virtually no building regulations, with only the facade needing to be preserved. Every possible solution was drawn up and explored. We partnered with NU architectuuratelier for the design and renovation process, which led to a pleasant collaboration and a result we're still completely satisfied with after 14 years.

A house with character

It's a house with character, and from every angle, there's a sense of monumentality, making life in it all the more exciting. It's a house that grows with our family. It continues to surprise us and offers us the opportunity to change and adapt to the needs of the moment.

In the warm summer of 2020, we built a lovely covered outdoor area together with our children.

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Perfect mix of living, working and meeting

From the outset, it was clear that we wanted to combine a public space with a private living area. A B&B was one of the possibilities, and a covered outdoor space for hosting events seemed fantastic. Studiomie took shape during the renovations. The house, our family, and Studiomie were perfectly aligned. I wanted to be able to work from home. We found the perfect mix to connect living, working, and socializing.

Jardin Botanique, one of the many events at Studiomie

Scenography and concept: Studiomie

The story behind the containers

We are often asked why we work with containers and how does that work?

Removing sections of the roof structure made our front facade unstable and required support. The ideal solution was to build the B&B against it. Two birds with one stone: the facade was supported, and Studiomie One Room Hotel was born.

Ward and I have a passion for shipping containers, waterproof construction kits in beautiful colors. We see them as inspiring objects that have already been used in art and, occasionally, in architecture. For example, the Frietag flagship store in Zurich was a beautiful example of container architecture, so it was definitely feasible. With a bit of persuasion, NU architectuuratelier joined our project.

By building with containers, you start with a windproof box. We also liked the idea of working with secondhand materials that could be given a new life. We purchased containers that had been written off for transport but were still in excellent condition for architectural solutions.

The selection process alone was a fantastic experience. The port wasn't new to me; I practically grew up with it because my father was the CEO of Tabaknatie, a port company in Antwerp. For me, the containers were a game of stacked-high colored blocks. So it was impressive to be able to choose our own containers at a terminal. From there, they went to the laser shop, where they were prepared according to the plans drawn up by NU and spray-painted in Studiomie mint green and warm ochre.

The big day!

At 7 a.m., the spectacular display could begin. The containers were delivered by truck. No wind was allowed that day. A crane hoisted them over the facade, positioned them in the correct location, and welded them together. Fifteen hours later, the job was completed.

The finishing touches could begin. Inside, we opted for a warm look using a single material: Polish pine. A finish that was new and unseen at the time, but has since become well-established in the interior design landscape. The interior is quite compact. By using a single material, we create a calming atmosphere. It also contrasts beautifully with the container's industrial exterior. We felt it was important to eliminate the container feel inside. This creates two atmospheres, two experiences, and further stimulates the senses. After 14 years, it's still innovative. Our guests often can't believe we've been working on it for so long. It feels new and timeless and remains a source of inspiration for our visitors.

Feel like spending the night here?

That's possible, check here to see which dates are still available.

On the One Room Hotel page you can find more photos of this great place in the center of Ghent.

This house became our home and reads like a diary.

Over the years, this house has grown, shaped, and lived with us. Warre and Roos grew from playful toddlers into independent young adults here. Playing in the garden with friends is now a beer with buddies. Children's drawings now flank their graphic design and photo assignments. The front garden has undergone numerous transformations for Studiomie events. It's always wonderful to welcome and meet people in these different settings. The shed in the garden became an art studio, and the warehouse with a woodworking workshop. This is our home, with large windows and doors that offer views of different atmospheres, where indoors and outdoors flow seamlessly together. Our home with character, where something monumental can be seen from every angle, making life in this house all the more exciting.

Photo diary: a selection from the renovation and so many wonderful moments experienced so far in this wonderful house. We're already looking forward to an equally atmospheric sequel.