Welcome to the Chateau d’eau. One of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Belgium started out as a water tower that was originally constructed between 1938 and 1941. This water tower has many years of history. It was built by the townspeople of Steenokkerzeel, Belgium to feed the people and the farms of the village. It was in service as a water tower until the early nineties and was even used by the Nazis as a “Tour de guete” during World War II.
In 2004, a petition was filed to save the tower as a historic landmark which was approved. Because the historic landmark is now safe from modern building and housing growth, the Bham design studio decided to make this place someone’s home as well as a meeting place for businesses and public gatherings. It has since gained recognition from around the world for its amazing architecture and its state of the art features.
Here is the water tower in its new glory.
The exterior was refinished to look exactly like it did when it was built.
It boasts some of the most incredible views in the country since it is just under 100 feet tall. Yes, there is a terrace on the roof.
This plaque signifies its historic value preserving this tower forever.
The interior is a complete opposite from the old exterior. Everything is top of the line, new and modern.
A full beautifully designed kitchen is the centerpiece to this beautiful home. Notice the angled cabinets and the use of light and dark finishes that accent each other.
This cat pretty much runs the place and even has its own room.
There is nothing obtrusive in this home. Everything is modern, simple and smooth.
The designers wanted to use “hard” materials to keep the original feel of the historic water tower.
A steel bridge connects you to other parts of the home.
Wénge wood flooring was used and provides a reddish hue on the walls when the sunlight hits it.
Some of the walls are painted in chalkboard paint so the family can leave each other messages and reminders. See that little round thing on the wall? You’ll never guess what it is.
It slides out and contains the switches that control the lighting and other features in the 6 story home.
The windows that were originally placed at the top of the tower were lengthened to provide more natural light inside the home.
Everything was kept simple and modern allowing you to appreciate each individual detail of the home.
There is a very spacious and comfortable living room.
Here is the cat just hanging out enjoying the beautiful view of the countryside.
Remember the cat’s room I was talking about. Here it is near the base of the elevator shaft.
The designers wanted to use a textured “hard” material to finish the cabinets to create a balance as well as improve the room’s acoustics.
The steel bridge includes some modern lighting that accents the floors below.
The terrace offers the most amazing panoramic views. It even provides a modern shower that drains into the raised hardwood floors.
The views are absolutely breathtaking.
The water tower is about 1/8 of a mile away from a small airport so the residents love to watch the planes fly right past them. It is a very small town so there isn’t too much air traffic. With the concrete walls, the home is nearly sound proof.
A beautiful spiral stair case brings you from the master bedroom up to the terrace. Notice the natural light glowing on the floors and bouncing up to the walls.
The cats love every part of this home obviously.
I love the simplicity and warmth that this home offers.
The entrance to the master bathroom is beautiful with a staircase leading to another room.
This beautiful black glass partition allows light to reflect through the room while reflecting the homes features.
Everything in this home compliments one another providing a seamless feel.
The angled tub fits perfectly and is unique creating a focal point in the bathroom.
I love the elongated windows glowing with natural light.
The designers sunk the floor and raised the shower head to make it feel like it is actually raining on you from the sky.
The black glass wall reflects the beautiful tub behind you as you shower.
If you catch it at the right angle the glass wall is actually transparent.
The his and hers sink basins compliment the design of this masterpiece.
Again the use of “hard” materials compliments the aesthetics of this home and allows you to focus on the details.
Here is the guest bedroom that can be used as anything. The bed folds into the wall almost seamlessly.
Even the doors throughout the home are seamless.
Here is a glimpse of one of the guest bathrooms.
I love that the walls have a break before the ceilings creating a shadow and depth to the rooms.
These modern details make the home what it is.
The original concrete ceilings were kept and painted dark gray to accent and compliment all the light colors throughout.
Here the owner heads down to a meeting room that is sometimes rented out to other businesses for parties and conferences.
The Chateau d’eau is a beautiful landmark located in Belgium. Not only is it stunning, it holds so much historic value. The old historic elements mixed with a modern touch really set this structure apart and have given it world-wide recognition. There are 6 floors in this amazing home and a phenomenal terrace boasting some of the countries best views. I love how original and unique this home is and you will be hard pressed to find another water tower home as nice as this one.