This space is located in Hamilton Heights. How did that locational identity make its way into your design process?
This project is what Cohabs calls a “Lab House.” It means that we experiment with concepts, ideas, and technical and aesthetic solutions. Testing these ideas in real life, at full scale, allows us to analyze both their feasibility and their relevance, and to decide what we will continue to implement in future projects and what we won’t. It’s a very time-consuming process, but also a lot of fun.
Do you have a connection to uptown Manhattan yourself?
Not personally, since I’m Belgian, but I really love the neighborhood’s down-to-earth, honest, and authentic atmosphere.
Adeline Jadot’s bespoke rugs were such a core part of the Lab House’s design, and they featured many references to the neighborhood’s connection to jazz music. Did that theme similarly influence you at all?
The concept behind this house was also to celebrate existing materials and artistic interventions. The idea was to create a more minimalist yet warm environment, with a strong identity. Quite a delicate balancing act. We had to focus our approach on bold, powerful gestures, such as the use of glass bricks and metal mesh in the stairwells.
You’re an artist of multiple disciplines: film, architecture, visual art, etc. How does that multi-hyphenate background affect your work?
I’m self-taught, and I’m deeply in love with chaos as part of the creative process. I love surrounding myself with an abundance of elements, objects, and materials that create an environment buzzing with creative energy.
In the end, what I do is a form of collage. I bring together objects and materials that aren’t supposed to belong together. I provoke collisions, and I love losing control, especially when collaborating with others.
How did this project compare to some of the other spaces you have designed for?
I design objects, private homes, hotels, and restaurants, but with Cohabs, we’re telling a story about community. We’re creating spaces for people from very different backgrounds who will live together. I love the idea that by creating an inspiring environment for them, we can encourage communal living and foster a real sense of belonging to the Cohabs community.
What do you and Cohabs have in common?
I also create communities of creative people. Zaventem Ateliers in Belgium is a perfect expression of that. It’s a former 6,000-square-meter printing factory that I’ve transformed into a unique creative hub, where I personally curate the selection of designers who can join and become part of this creative family. I also integrate young local designers into all my projects, following the same philosophy.
We’ve created a concept called the “Realistic Circle,” which is essentially a virtuous collaborative circle where no creative or financial interference is imposed on the collaborations we develop.
What was your favorite part of this collaboration?
Working with Adeline was incredibly easy. As I mentioned, I approach my work like a film director. I cast talent, we discuss the script, and then they bring their own interpretation, which I embrace. For me, giving people creative freedom always leads to great results.
