VP Brugge is a minimal home located in Bruges, Belgium, designed by Frederic Kielemoes Interieurarchitect. This slender townhouse embodies what might be called a paradox of spatial design—turning constraints into opportunities through thoughtful intervention and material dialogue. The narrow frontage immediately establishes a framework that demands precision. Each decision in the space becomes magnified in importance, similar to how Japanese machiya townhouses evolved over centuries to transform narrow “eel beds” into richly layered living environments. Here, in this Belgian context, the designer embraces the challenge with equal rigor.

“Exactly the compact nature of the property was an intriguing starting point to me,” notes the designer, revealing how limitation sparked imagination rather than hindering it. “I had to ensure that every corner served a purpose. While the size may have been modest, the challenge was never seen as a limitation but as an opportunity to create an unexpected urban oasis.”

This philosophy manifests in the vertical integration of the space, where a lift becomes not merely functional but essential to the home’s narrative. The vertical circulation transforms the traditional townhouse experience, compressing transitions between floors and expanding the perception of volume. This technical solution echoes the work of modernist architects like Adolf Loos, who mastered the art of the raumplan—creating spatial complexity through level changes within confined footprints.

What distinguishes this project is its deliberate contrast between front and back. While the street facade maintains the historical dialogue with Bruges’ medieval urban fabric, the rear opens to unexpected abundance—a wellness garden complete with a pool and modest poolhouse. This juxtaposition creates a narrative of discovery, where the compressed experience of the entrance sequence gives way to expansiveness.