An excerpt from Sanne Bolten in conversation with Vincent Van Duysen in 1605 Magazine No.2 Illusion

Images: Vincent Van Duysen

Vincent Van Duysen’s creative zeal seems unbridled, irrepressible almost. Over the course of three decades, the illustrious architect has mesmerised the world with his timeless essentialism. A behemoth in his field, he has received countless accolades, including the Flemish Culture Prize for Design and nominations for the Mies van der Rohe Award. Since 2016, he has also held the position of Creative Director for Molteni&C, in addition to other roles—the list is endless.

The footprint of his firm stretches well beyond the equator, with projects in places like Belgium, Thailand the United States and Japan. His inspirations are equally diverse—spanning different cultures and epochs—from Japan’s Tadao Ando to Mexico’s Luis Barragan and the Dutch Dom Hans van der Laan. From large-scale projects to private residences, each of his spatial designs integrates architecture, interior and product design in an almost sacred, holistic approach.

His tour de force, Casa M, is an exercise in warm brutalism and what he refers to as and the art of living. Being in the unique position of both client and contractor, Van Duysen maintained full control and indulged in his love for texture. Situated on a 14-acre, 660 square-metre plot in the Portuguese Melides, it is the physical embodiment of an illusion. The compound, deceptive in its stature, performs an act of disappearing, setting itself apart from its brutalist predecessors. To him, it serves as the ultimate refuge from the velocity of modern life.

“Casa M bears an almost sacred essence. It’s a robust building that imparts a sense of protection while simultaneously engaging in a dialogue with nature. Not only because of how it rises in the same shade as the sand surrounding it but also through the use of rather limited materials that bear a stunning quality. There are concrete, sand grains, pebbles, water, and I have added a wood species, Ipe, which serves as a cultural nod to the relationship between Portugal and Brazil, as well as terracotta tiles. Ultimately, it’s a compact dwelling nestled in a dune, a massive construction that alternates openings, inviting the outside world in, as it were. Then there is the rhythm of the square columns, reminiscent of the archetypal, classic pillars often seen in consecutive rows but also found in Greco-Roman architecture. A patio adjoins the living space, transforming into an extension of the sitting room. Within this area, a water body resides, part of the same slab. This interplay between mass and voids, materials and textures, all melds into a singular design, transforming the space into an intensely tranquil sanctuary with an open pavilion structure."