A Class Apart

This article was published in the July issue of The Bulletin (Brussels' expat mag - www.xpats.com)

Who says you can’t find stylish and environmentally-friendly accommodation in Brussels? Katy Holliday checks into the city’s first eco aparthotel and enjoys some home comforts with a clear conscience.

The heavy door glides open. A marbled entrance hallway is etched with symbolic imagery of lions and bravery in battle. I step into a tiny elevator that’s barely large enough for more than three people. It opens up into the penthouse suite at Housestories, an aparthotel with just five rooms, created by Belgian business duo Isabel Verstraete and Alexandre Pijcke. Isabel is Flemish. Alexandre is from Wallopnia. The pair have known each other for over 20 years. They both have a background as freelance communication consultants and so branding comes naturally to them. I wander around the spacious Art Deco penthouse. It measures 175 square metres.

From the large bay windows I can see a lush and leafy canopy of trees in the nearby Parc Duden; the trendy Bar du Matin is also close by. But inside the view is even better. Light wood panelling stretches and curves around the walls except for in the oversized bathroom. The sheer size of it reminds me of a bathhouse, with opulent marbled walls, a deep ceramic tub and a sauna.

Here I am on the border of the communes of Forest and Saint-Gilles, immersed in luxury. This must be bad, right? Possibly. But I take some comfort from the fact that the Art Deco building, designed in 1932 by architect Albert Callewaert, has been ecologically restored to the highest standards. Some time ago, Isabel and Alexandre decided to embark on a business venture together. They just needed the right idea. “In 2005,” explains Isabel, “I travelled around the world with my then two-year-old. I discovered for the first time the concept of aparthotels and realised that it was a great way of discovering a city, especially with children, as you are not stuck in a small, cramped hotel room.

“I called Alexandre from Thailand and told him that I finally had an idea for our business venture. He replied, ‘Come back to Belgium and we will discuss it.’ Then we began to do research into the market.” The entire building is listed and protected by the Commission Royale des Monuments et Sites (CRMS) because of its original Art Deco interior and façade. This raised problems for the team when they set about renovating the building ecologically. The project took a year longer to complete than first expected. “The whole team behind the renovation put a lot of effort into using the newest ecological technologies available,” says Isabel. “In terms of insulation, we used the best to ensure there is no loss of energy from the building. The house keeps its natural heat and the temperature inside remains the same all year round.”

Other technologies include solar panelling (combined with a green electricity supplier), double glazing, a rainwater tank in the garden for flushing the toilets and a nine-metre-long Canadian well that uses the geothermal energy of the soil it is laid in to both cool and heat the air entering the building. “For cleaning we only use eco-friendly products and we ask our guests to make a big effort when it comes to recycling,” Isabel continues.

Alexandre tells me that there has been a 90 percent reduction in heating consumption since the technologies were put in place and that 70 percent of the total water consumption on the property is provided by the rainwater tanks. Housestories is currently one of the most ecologically-advanced houses in the Brussels Region and has been awarded the prestigious Bâtiment Exemplaire (Outstanding Building) award.

“Green renovation is still quite a new idea to Brussels,” says Isabel. “Most of the other aparthotels in Brussels are investment projects carried out by multinational groups. It’s not within their objectives to take the time and invest the money that are necessary to create an ecologically-friendly environment or add a personal touch.”

The personal touch is something that sets Housestories apart. It comes from the combination of original Art Deco features with modern, stylish appliances. A record player with a collection of old vinyl creates a retro touch. There are other personal details too – antique ink bottles on the desk, old brandy bottles, and various quirky-shaped lamps, pots and vases in earthy terracotta colours. But it’s not all old. You also get modern, stylish appliances like an iPod docking station, Smeg kitchen appliances and a Philips flat screen television. It’s the complete package.

Isabel spent a year searching antiques stores and flea markets to collect the right furnishings for all five apartments. “When decorating,” she tells me, “I decided to work with vintage furniture, because it also has that eco aspect since it is reused,” she explains. “I wanted to create a place or apartment that I would want to live in myself. If I want to live there then surely others would too.” It is possible for business travellers to stay a minimum of four nights, but her target group is longterm guests. The concept seems to be working. “I think when people go abroad they want a better experience. I know I would prefer to stay somewhere that I can feel at home.”

Housestories is a brand and Isabel and Alexandre are now keen to expand on their concept. Alexandre informs me of plans to build two more apartments in the complex, complete with parking, and eventually they
would like to find another house in Brussels to renovate ecologically. “We are only looking for special houses that have a story, houses with a soul. Tasteless and boring are for us out of the question,” Isabel concludes.

As I settle into the penthouse apartment for a spell, I can understand what she means.

Housestories,
107 Avenue Besme, Brussels.
www.housestories.be 

Five things to do near Housestories:

• With its large terrace and
buzzy atmosphere, Bar
du Matin is a favourite
with local trendies.
Refreshing jugs of cocktails
loaded up with lime and
mint are served along with a
small selection of food. Wi-fi
is available. DJs regularly
amp up the nights and
although it can get wild, the
party usually ends by 2am.
172 Chaussée
d’Alsemberg, Forest.

• Fungi fans and wine lovers enjoy Café
des Spores. The restaurant specialises in
Spanish wines, and its mouth-watering
dinner menu teems with delicious
mushroom varieties. The chef cooks
from behind the bar, infusing the room
with gorgeous aromas. 103 Chaussée
d’Alsemberg, Saint-Gilles.

• Escape the noise and stress of the city and
go for a stroll in Parc Duden. This is one
of the prettiest parks in Brussels, offering
gorgeous views of the city from its hilly
heights. You can watch the occasional
football match or spot a bright green
parakeet in the pine trees.

• For more Art Deco architecture, head to
the Church of St Augustine, or Altitude
100, a summit of Brussels. Built in 1936,
the church is one of three religious Art
Deco buildings remaining in the city. Place
de l’Altitude Cent, Forest.

• The Wiels brewery has in recent
years had a bit of major makeover
and re-launched itself as a centre for
contemporary art. It holds lots of
fascinating exhibitions and events, and has
a brilliant café which serves quiche to die
for. 354 Avenue Van Volxem,
Forest.