On the edge of Turnhout’s city park, in the verdant Hertenstraat, stands an exceptional residence from 1969: architect Paul Schellekens’ own home. This work is considered a significant achievement within the Turnhout School and has been officially recognised as architectural heritage since 2019.
The house was conceived as one large spatial unit under an imposing, sloping tiled roof. This roof connects three different levels and creates a pronounced interplay of light, sightlines and spatial perspectives. The interior unfolds as a sequence of open living areas, mezzanines and visual connections — the right side opens up to the garden, while the left side remains more closed and introverted.
The brick walls remained visible both inside and out, combined with fine steel profiles and warm wooden accents. The result is a brutalist yet homely architecture in which structure and atmosphere go hand in hand. The house is clearly inspired by international examples from that period, including the pavilions of the Montreal World Expo.
In 2018, the house underwent a thorough renovation. Sustainable technologies such as solar panels, a solar water heater and a new heating system were integrated without compromising the building’s original character. Inside, the existing swimming pool was preserved — a striking element that seamlessly blends into the house’s brutalist design language thanks to large sliding windows and the tactile use of brick.
With four spacious bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a double garage, office space, and a playfully arranged living area, the house offers not only architectural quality but also contemporary living comfort. The unique structure makes the house function perfectly as a family home, but equally well as an architectural B&B, as it has been operated in recent years.
This residence is more than a house — it is an architectural manifesto in which form, material and space converge into a timeless whole.
