Few simple gestures were necessary for Atelier Janda Vanderghote to renovate an old barn in Smetlede, south-east of Ghent, maintaining that rustic sense of the Belgian countryside without losing a frankly contemporary approach. Located. The Garden House consists of the renovation of an existing structure, to which is added a new outdoor room that formally dialogues with the historical architecture.

This new building features a polycarbonate scales coating on the outside, a translucent skin that diffuses natural light during the day, while in the evening it allows the volume to illuminate the garden. The interior is marked by the geometries of the wooden structure. Beams, pillars, braces and cornices create a play of sculptural forms, affirming the contemporary nature of the new extension, despite the traditional and iconic pitched roof dialogues with other historical architecture.