FREL House Wondelgem real estate, Gent home in Belgium, Flanders property, Belgian residence design

FREL House in Gent, Belgium

25 November 2025

Design: ZOOM architecten

Location: Wondelgem, Gent, East Flanders, Flemish Region of Belgium

Photos: Dieter Van Caneghem

FREL House, Wondelgem, Gent, Belgium

Project FREL is a contemporary residential architecture project located in Wondelgem, Belgium. Designed for a large family, the house explores the balance between openness and enclosure, structure and space, economy and generosity. Positioned at the end of a row of plots intended for detached housing, the site enjoys open views in all directions — a rare quality that strongly influenced the design.

The building’s form emerges from the stacking and careful positioning of triangular volumes within a square footprint. This geometric approach creates a dynamic interplay between solid and void, between “full” and “hollow.”

The closed volumes contain the more private and functional spaces — bedrooms, bathrooms, storage, and circulation — while the open quadrants host the shared living and play areas. This alternation of openness and enclosure defines the home’s unique spatial experience.

The triangular geometry also ensures that each quadrant benefits from abundant daylight and strong visual connections to the outside. More than one-third of the wall surface in each open space faces outward, emphasizing a continuous dialogue between interior and exterior.

In line with the project’s budget-conscious approach, the design avoids excessive use of glazing and finishes. Instead, the raw structure and technical elements remain visible, celebrating the honesty of materials and construction. The result is a compact yet generous home that combines architectural clarity with playful spatial variation — a refined living environment shaped by thoughtful geometry and intelligent restraint.