- Interior
- Architecture & development
The Brussels design office études wants to create architecture without losing sight of the past or its surroundings. This was also the starting point for Kipopo House, which is fully integrated into the environment and was created with respect for local materials and building techniques.
Design studio études, the brainchild of childhood friends Karine Szekeres and Nicolas Wicart, arose from the desire to attain serenity by simplifying thoughts and figures, without losing sight of the past and its surroundings. The duo believes that architecture is incomplete without the perceptual and emotional involvement of the viewer. Consequently, they create spaces with the utmost respect for a country, building or culture. The studio has been based in Brussels since the end of 2020, with active projects all over Europe, as well as Asia and Africa.
The garden blurs the boundaries between inside and outside.
And it is in this last continent that the wonderful project we are highlighting here is located. Located on Lake Kipopo in the Congolese city of Lubumbashi, Kipopo House blends delicately into its surroundings. The entrance opens onto an enclosed garden that offers a beautiful view of the lake. On either side of the garden are the living and dining rooms. With a set of handmade pivot woven windows, both rooms embrace the central outdoor area. In this way, the garden, which serves as a connecting element, blurs the boundaries between inside and outside. 
The core of the house is divided to create vertical proportions in each room. In this way, your gaze is drawn to the lake while the space is flooded with indirect light. The private wings on either side calmly look out and frame the outdoor space. This creates a visual connection with the lake that is shielded from neighbouring glances. 
The result is a warm and spacious dwelling, created with respect for local materials and construction techniques, and that is in complete harmony with its surroundings.
Courtesy of études
Images © Klaudia Adamiak