A Decade of Design with Belgian Architect Nicolas Schuybroek

Belgian architect Nicolas Schuybroek’s monograph recognises a decade of design under his signature hallmarks of ‘maximum, minimalist, elegance’.

The concept ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ – where architecture, interiors, art and furniture fuse are conceived as a whole – governs the work of Belgian architect Nicolas Schuybroek. It’s how the architect creates spaces that are equally raw and stripped back, monastic, and yet always have a soul.

Previously a project director for Vincent Van Duysen, Nicolas established his namesake studio ten years ago with a small scale philosophy, embarking on a “quest for in-depth substance and warmth” through detail, craftsmanship and intuition. The architect says that while their work might appear to be simple, it’s only in appearance. “We strive to generate emotions and define a new type of poetics of space,” he says.

“We seek to create spaces and volumes carefully carved by proportion, geometry, circulation, voids and lines.”

– Nicolas Schuybroek

Nicolas Schuybroek

We’ve had the privilege of watching Nicolas hone his approach to residential design over the years through earlier work such as the classic MK House in Antwerp, Belgium and later, his redesign of a Paris apartment on the city’s 16th Arrondissement. Both projects are celebrated in Nicolas’ recently launched monograph, ‘Selected Works – Volume One‘; a portfolio that reflects a far-reaching appreciation for his work through breadth in scale and geography.

‘Selected Works – Volume One‘, shortly to be released in Australia, sets out to recognise Nicolas’ body of work and the theory that underpins it. As the architect attests, when humans first built structures, they were either a place to live or worship. “In both cases, the function of architecture was to nurture culture by uniting souls, joining families and congregations into societies and states,” he says. In this way, Nicolas approaches a future decade of architecture and design for his practice. “Our work takes time, passion and patience. We enjoy it,” he maintains.

VIEW NICOLAS SCHUYBROEK SELECTED WORKS VOLUME ONE