Magazyn - simplicity at its best!

Stumbled upon this store on the ever so elegant blog REMODELISTA. A stunningly curated selection of clean and organic designs, this little shop has a big impact on the ever so stylish city of Antwerp, Belgium. With a palette of neutrals and raw textures - Magazyn showcases objects with clean lines allowing the beauty of the chosen materials to shine in harmony with its surroundings. This store is minimalism at its best!

"Owned by Thomas Haarmann, a former art director from Düsseldorf, Germany, Magazyn sells a range of tableware, furniture, and objects—everything from Astier de Villatte ceramics and Lobmeyr glassware to basic cotton laundry bags. Back in 2012, Haarmann moved the store from a location within Antwerp's central mall to a spot near Nationalestraat, a street featuring the likes of Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester. The store is more spacious with a palette of concrete and white walls cast in low lighting from Michael Anastassiades." - Remodelista

MAGAZYN

Steenhouwersvest 34A

2000 Antwerpen

Belgium

011-32-(0)3 226 66 06 

http://www.magazyn.be

Savonnerie Bruxelloise

I discovered Savonneries Bruxelloise after receiving one of their elegant boxes as a gift, and just had to find out more about these exquisite soaps! Their sophisticated scents are Ginger & Lime, Calendula, Green Tea, Peony, Lilly of the Valley, Black Rose, Olive Flower, Lavender and more ...

Established in 1926, Savonneries Bruxelloises has over the years, established itself as Belgium’s premier soap maker. Located in the heart of Brussels and still in the original building where the compagny was founded, they still use traditional methods of manufacturing and only the finest of fragrances. At this time, they are exporting more than 75% of their production to almost all European Countries, to the Middle East, the Far East and to North America.

Adress : 27, Ed. Tollenaere street
B-1020 Brussels
Belgium
Tel : +32 2 426.46.40
http://www.savonneriesbruxelloises.com

Getting Lost In a Steel Maze

Artists Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout van Verenbergh of Gijs Van Vaerenbergh designed a huge maze with five-meter-tall steel corridors at the C-MINE Art Centre in Genk, Belgium. Around a kilometer of pathways of this installation are surrounded by steel panels booleaned to create huge geometric shapes that cut through the entire structure.

Labyrinth comprises tunnels and corridors that unveil unexpected perspectives of large portions of the composition and help visitors better orient themselves. Differently-shaped voids and cut-outs create surprising views of the steel walls that transform the idea of a maze from a structure that focuses on horizontality and corners into a true three-dimensional experience. Parts of the installation are reminiscent of vaulted cathedral ceilings, halls of mirrors and art installations.

Walls reveal other parts of the structure and create a spatially exciting environment. Viewed from certain perspectives, the cut-outs look fragmented, while from other points visitors can see the entire shape. Labyrint also interacts with the C-mine by allowing visitors to ascend the old mine shafts and have a look at the entire structure from above. This perspective is generally reserved for the creator of the project. 

This post by Lidija Grozdanic @ INHABITAT and THE CONTEMPORIST

Belgium’s Mythical Hallerbros Forest

This fairytale forest turns into a mesmerizing sea of blue flowers every year. Located just outside of Brussels, Hallerbros, also known as Bois de Hal in French, the 552-hectare forest is consumed by a thick layer of bluebell flowers sometime during April or May. Kilian Schönberger, a German landscape photographer, recently captured some stunning images of the spectacle.

This post by Ross Brooks via INHABITAT

The magical hats of Christopher Coppens

 

A Belgian artist living in Los Angeles, Christopher Coppens - designer, artist of all trades - from visually offensive (for some) to shocking to funny to smart to sophisticated .... Christopher's work is extremely eclectic and includes many different mediums. Usually very colorful, cringeworthy and sarcastic "in your face" visuals ... I have to admit a weakness for the more sophisticated and toned down poetry of his hats.

Trained initially as a theater director, Coppens started his own label as an accessories designer at the age of 21, a career that would span over 20 years with several outlets, international press following and buyers the world over, and that he would combine and nurture with his first stunts and solo shows as an artist. For more on his incredible journey, click here. 

But 2012 would mark a very important episode in his career, when, after 21 years of making work on the edge of art and fashion, Coppens decided to close his company to focus exclusively on his work as an artist. At this point his label was sold in 140 shops worldwide, his name was heard among fashion connoisseurs and he had become arguably one of the most celebrated milliners in Japan.

Part of this post via Wikipedia

http://www.christophecoppens.com/

Heerlijkheid van Marrem - A farm for short-term rental

The small Belgian town of Wevelgem in West Flanders was once devoted to flax cultivation (weavers would soak their crop in the De Leie river running through town). Today, the area, within biking distance of the French border, is known for its old churches, WWI cemeteries, cycling and walking trails, and Heerlijkheid van Marrem, a historic farmstead available to rent.

When owners Natalie and Dominque purchased the farm in 2007, they leaned on their remodeling and interior design experience to renovate the property, which was built in the mid-18th century but has parts that date to the 15th century. First, they tackled the caved-in stable walls in the gatehouse, then the carriage house, the square main farmhouse, and so on, preserving all of the original features and artfully mingling them with spare modern rustic designs. Heerlijkheid van Marrem, Dutch for "The Glory of Marrem" (marrem refers to the marshland in the area), accommodates 20-23 people in four buildings—it's available only to one group at a time and is ideal for families or groups of friends. The couple, who live at the farm with their three young sons, have also added a flock of floppy-eared black and white British Suffolk sheep, some donkeys, and a Belgian draft horse. Come have a look.

This post via Remodelista

Heerlijkheid van Marrem
Marremstraat 1,
8560 Wevelgem
Belgium

http://www.heerlijkheidvanmarrem.be/

From Military Church to Restaurant : presenting The Jane

Dutch designer Piet Boon has transformed the interior of a former military hospital chapel in Antwerp, Belgium, into a contemporary restaurant featuring a sculptural chandelier.

Piet Boon's Amsterdam studio worked with lighting designers .PSLAB and artists Studio Job on the interior of The Jane restaurant, combining modern elements with the chapel's high ceilings and patterned tile floor.

"The main features we retained in The Jane were the ceiling, of which the peeling paintwork was preserved, and the original pottery floor tiles," the design team told Dezeen.

Described by the designers as "fine dining meets rock 'n roll", the restaurant accommodates its kitchen in the church's former altar.

.PSLAB's large chandelier made from steel and hand-blown crystal glass forms a centrepiece in the restaurant. Thin steel poles extend out in all directions from its central cylinder, with small crystal globes attached to the end of each one.

Black circular tables and pale green armchairs sit beneath the chandelier, while larger seating areas are positioned against the walls.

Studio Job created 500 colourful glass window panels to replace the former stained-glass windows.

Referencing "stories of good and evil, rich and poor, life and death as well as good food and religion", the panels include images of sunflowers, devils and skulls.

A marble-topped bar is installed on an upper-level viewing platform and surrounded by black upholstered bar stools. An illuminated skull light hangs down at the rear of the space.

Bespoke speakers were also installed to "spread sound", reducing noise and echo from the high ceilings. "The acoustics of the restaurant play an important role in speech intelligibility and ambiance," added the designers.

This post via
http://www.dezeen.com/

And for more information about this incredible location and the people who made it happen,
click here http://www.dezeen.com/2014/04/06/military-church-antwerp-transformed-restaurant-piet-boon-studio-job/

Hotel Julien - Antwerp

What: For me at this moment Hotel Julien is the most beautiful hotel in Antwerp. If you get the chance to sleep in this city, you have to take this option in serious consideration.

Atmosphere & design: The design of the hotel is extraordinary. I am a big fan of the combination of the light wood and marble in their bathrooms, I love to sit in their living room in front of the fireplace, I want to hang out in their spa forever, I adore the fresh flowers throughout the hotel and I like to spend evenings in their bar sipping great cocktails (open for non-hotel guests too!).

Location: Their location is perfect. It lies a few doorsteps away from the Antwerp cathedral, good restaurants and the shopping area. You are in the most central part of Antwerp city.

Insiders tip: They have a beautiful private spa in their cellar that you can book (also as a non-hotel guest). Combine it with a treatment (REN products!) and feel like new when you come outside. Don’t forget to have a look at their rooftop terrace to have the best views of the cathedral.

Price category: Rooms are between 180 and 260 euros per night.

Korte Nieuwstraat 24, 

Antwerp

(+32) 03 229 06 00

info@hotel-julien.com

www.hotel-julien.com

Copyright pictures: Marie Monsieur

This post via http://mademoisellemonsieur.be/let-me-take-you-to/hotel-julien/