PL Residence is a minimalist home located in Knokke, Belgium, designed by element architecten. The first time you encounter the cylindrical wooden door handles nestled within the walnut paneling of this Knokke residence, you understand something essential about the project. These aren’t mere functional elements; they’re tactile invitations. Each handle presents itself as a carefully considered detail that bridges the technical requirements of a door mechanism with the sensory pleasure of touch – a microcosm of the home’s entire design philosophy.

Throughout this Belgian interior, materials speak in hushed tones. Richly grained walnut paneling lines hallways and extends into the bedroom, creating a continuous warm embrace that feels both contemporary and timeless. The decision to use this particular hardwood isn’t merely aesthetic; it connects to a lineage of Northern European modernism that has long privileged natural materials handled with precision and restraint.

The bathroom reveals another thoughtful material dialogue. Terracotta-colored basins provide an earthy counterpoint to the cool precision of brushed stainless-steel Vola faucets mounted directly into mirrored surfaces. This juxtaposition creates a moment where industrial manufacturing meets artisanal ceramic traditions, all unified through a minimalist sensibility that eliminates visual noise.

In the dining area, a round marble table by Paul Kjærholm anchors the space, surrounded by tan leather chairs that echo the warm tones found throughout the home. Kjærholm’s work has always explored the tension between industrial production and handcraft, and this table continues that investigation—its precisely machined stone surface and elegant proportions demonstrating the designer’s rigorous approach to materiality.

The kitchen embodies similar principles through different means. Matte metal cabinetry recedes visually, allowing more expressive elements—like the Aqualex tap fixtures and sculptural objects displayed on open shelving—to command attention. Here, functionality is never sacrificed for aesthetics but rather enhanced through careful consideration of both.