The Human Side Of Art And Architecture With Vincent Van Duysen

Vincent Van Duysen refuses to be put in a box. Rather, the architect and designer sees himself in multitudes. On an unusually sun-kissed day in Antwerp, I stepped into the home of the man who famously creates homes for others. Standing before his gracious townhouse, a dizzying sense of delirium rushed through me—trailed by a surprising moment of ease. Met with a smile and his two dachshunds, Pablo and Flora, his home was decidedly warm. Just like the rest of us, Van Duysen is curiously human, albeit with a few more accolades.

Born in Belgium, a child of postmodernism, and a token of the late eighties in Milan, his work expresses a deep-rooted command of design and, most importantly, people. Teetering the line between architecture, interiors, and product design, his studio Vincent Van Duysen Architects, exists to bring out an individual’s essence. And unbeknownst to me at the time, his words would help me uncover mine. Here, I sit down with the Belgian Designer of the Year, creative director of Molteni&C, art director at Sahco for Kvadrat, and new collaborator at Zara Home—to understand the man beyond the aesthetic facade.

Natalie Stoclet: What makes a home a home?

Vincent Van Duysen: A home is where someone feels protected and comfortable. It has to be calming and sensorial, where you can disconnect from the real world. It’s an environment that visually and emotionally puts you at ease. Architecturally, the balance between proportions and light is essential. It’s about finding harmony within a certain hierarchy of rooms. You need places where your books, belongings, pets, and loved ones feel comfortable together.

Stoclet: What do you believe is the core job of an architect?

Van Duysen: I’m an architect, but I’m also not a singular thing. My work is multidisciplinary and human-centric, meaning the client is number one. Everything is dedicated to that person. I’m diving into their psyche, and it’s very important that there is chemistry between us. I can’t move the project in one direction alone—the client has to bring their personality to the table. And I have to get that out of them. That’s what challenges me the most and makes each project different and contextual. Everyone is unique, and I want to express that uniqueness.

Stoclet: What is the process of getting to know your clients?

Van Duysen: I need to truly understand what my clients want and who they are before we create. I take a deep dive into their lives; I connect with them in a very human way. Once we get a feel for the person and their soul, we think about how they want the home or project to function. I encourage clients to share images of things that they’ve seen elsewhere. I put a lot of effort into communication and exchange of ideas. I have a good sense and knowledge of people. That’s my strength as an architect. Most architects are more mathematical and rational. I am more of an instinctive, intuitive person. That’s what makes my interaction with my clients passionate and powerful. That includes my team too. I’m also there to stimulate them and ensure we reinvent and customize our projects.

Stoclet: How do you navigate innovation with such an established name?

Van Duysen: We all like to surprise. The unexpected sits in the back of my mind every day. I’m constantly challenging myself to come up with new ideas. I hate repetition and this kind of copy-and-paste effect. It’s boring. You can have references and an evolution of style, but you always need to go further.

Stoclet: What do you think it means to have style?

Van Duysen: It’s very subjective. Beauty is not a word that is always appreciated in the world of architecture. We, as architects, have to create shelters and spaces with a reason and a function. It’s a structural construction. It has to be conceptually strong. It has to be well placed in its context. But for me, beauty is important. I couldn’t live without beauty, the pureness of it. Beauty can be anything. It can be something that comes from nature. It can be a beautiful conversation. It can be art that opens up your mind and connects with your soul, and makes you happy. It is vital for humanity. And I’m not talking about exterior beauty, but what’s on the inside.

Stoclet: With so much newness in the industry, how do you create longevity?

Van Duysen: I have been using natural materials since the beginning of my career. I like natural woods, stones, and linens that transform over time through exposure and use. My work is sensorial and timeless. I’ve lived in my house for 20 years, and when people come over, they feel like it was done yesterday. Sometimes clients come to me with images from more than 30 years ago as references for today. It’s about creating a real home with warmth and emotion. Authenticity never goes out of style.

Stoclet: How has your style evolved?

Van Duysen: As a kid, I went against anything that was categorized as a trend. My dad thought I was such an anarchist. I still don’t believe in trends in that way. The sun goes up and down for everyone, and everyone has different tastes. I was a kid of postmodernism educated in Europe. The forms were very archetypical, sensual, and pure. It formed my way of thinking and turned my focus on beautiful natural materials. The older I got, the richer my work became in terms of complexity. I began to add layers. I started collecting art, books, and vintage pieces that connect with my way of thinking. This kind of richness and complexity is something that grew. It doesn’t mean I’m a purist, but I will always create balance and never overdo it.

Stoclet: What brings you joy and warmth outside of your work?

Van Duysen: I’m not a social butterfly. I am more introverted; I have a small group of friends. I know a lot of people, but I like to be on my own. I have been practicing transcendental meditation for a couple of years, which I love and which is very helpful. And then there’s Portugal. I escape to Comporta and have my sanctuary in the middle of nature. There’s no art inside because the art is living outside in the dunes near the ocean with beautiful umbrella pines.

Stoclet: What first interested you in spirituality and transcendental meditation?

Van Duysen: I was running too fast. I couldn’t stand the velocity or the speed of modern society. I hit a breaking point and thought, this has to stop. I put my foot down, and that’s how it started. In transcendental meditation, you go to this ultimate state of inner calmness, which is good for you mentally and physically. You get more focused and connected. It makes you very grateful. Transcendental meditation has accelerated my growth and creativity. Those moments of pause give me the opportunity to learn a lot.

Stoclet: How do you invite these spiritual qualities into your work?

Van Duysen: It’s intuitive. Spaces hold energy; there’s a sense of Feng Shui. I have always been very sensitive to positioning and placement. My team and I work around that because the story a space tells is formed from the beginning. When we start a project, I always try to embody the client. I want to feel what they feel when they open the door and move through each space. It has to have a good energy flow.

Stoclet: What advice do you have for budding architects looking to build their intuition?

Van Duysen: Don’t be scared of yourself. Consciously listen to yourself, who you are, and what you want, and be honest. Even if it is difficult, you can still have people who guide and help you, but it’s very personal. On my team, it’s rare that we hire people that are entirely themselves from the beginning. Each person takes time to blossom and open up to their talents. Know that it takes time, and that’s a good thing. Be intentional, have trust, and most importantly, always have a sense of curiosity.

Stoclet: Did you have any mentors in your career?

Van Duysen: There have been many. My father was creative, and my parents lived in an entourage of pretty creative people. Even though I came from a conservative background, artists were always around. The people you surround yourself with, your friends and professors, are important. Throughout my career, my clients have also been great mentors to me. The input of my clients has been incredibly formative.

Stoclet: What other types of projects interest you?

Van Duysen: Having been a world traveler for many years, hotels are special to me. A hotel has to be rooted culturally. It has to be authentic and contextually correct. We’ve only completed one hotel project located here in Antwerp. It’s called August. We turned an old convent with a chapel into a hotel. I learned a lot. It was in my city, and I could do it in a very personal way. From that first hospitality project, we’re working on a few others in Portugal, but I still have big dreams. I’m a fan of Aman and would love to collaborate with them. Aman is the ultimate example of what a hotel should be; they are all sanctuaries. They give you a supreme sense of silence and calmness. Maybe it’s cliche, but it’s building a home away from home, especially when you’re traveling a lot.

Stoclet: What does Antwerp mean to you?

Van Duysen: Antwerp is a small city with cosmopolitan colors. Culturally, we have an incredible background. We have great painters, photographers, dancers, and others making grand statements. There is an excellent range of creativity here, and because it’s not a big city like Brussels, there’s a unique sense of intimacy. Belgium is this compressed little country in the middle of Europe. We’ve always had to push ourselves to be heard and make room. We are hard workers. We really want things to happen here. It’s very passionate.