“Beauty is not an absolute idea, and can only be appreciated through contrast”. Théophile Gautier

“The rumbles of the wind awaken the echoes that roar in my spirit. For the time of an instant, I become the musical vessel of my environment”. Michiels Partners was awarded the design of a new pool house for the Solvay residence in Brussels, Belgium. With the existing structure being of a classical architectural style, yet with the owners seeking a modern addition, Michiels Partners imagined a unique way to design a modern structure that would not only embrace the “old” building but personify the new one.

Entitled “A Musical Promenade”, this pool house is much more than a place to change clothes. It has become a space where one can experience a timeless, meditative walk through the echoes of nature. The “being here” and “being present” take on a different dimension where the spectator is silenced by the sounds of the environment. The transparency of the promenade allows the eye to absorb its surroundings uninterrupted. The main focal points, being the beginning and the end of the walkway, present strong contrasting views of two very distinct styles of architecture: a traditional classical residence and a modern architectural poem. Bowing to one another across a bay of lush grass, both structures are an authentic expression of their artistic period.

A lounge area adjacent to the existing pool house provides a dining section with easy access to the kitchen, as well as a lounge area about the pool. The second stage of the pool house is located across the lawn and offers a more private, ecological dining area where family and friends can gather together while enjoying lunch, supper or just watching the stars around an open fire pit. Located in Brussels, Belgium