Dieter Vander Velpen is a Belgian architectural firm founded in 2013 by Dieter Vander Velpen. The main design concept is low-key luxury. Dieter worked as an architect at Vincent Van Duysen in 2011-2013. Vincent Van Duysen has had a great influence on him! Timeless materials, warm tones and clean lines are their signature style. After setting up his own office, the firm enjoyed praise for its simplicity and exquisite design in just a few years. A variety of classic design elements complement each other to form a graphical modern composition.

Yinjispace：How did "minimalism" affect you? When did you get inspired? Are you interested in it?

Minimalism for me means creating a reducing clutter and clearing the space of all distracting elements and unnecessary technology, so that we can show the beautiful natural materials we work with, such as the statement marbles and beautiful wood veneers. While minimalism is definitely an inspiration, I wouldn’t necessarily classify our style as such, because we do also keep elements with a purely decorative function. It’s not our objective to strip the property as far as we can. 

We also get a lot of inspiration from the property itself, we always look at what’s already there, which original features can we restore or reinterpret. We also look at the surroundings, how we can bring the outside in and connect different spaces. Finally we also get inspired by the client, their personality and their interests. We always design with the client in mind and incorporate features that match their personality. This means we try to find the perfect balance between personal and contemporary on the one hand, and timeless on the on the other.

Yinjispace：How would you describe the characteristics of your design?

We call it Couture Architecture, which references the way we approach our relationship with the client and the design of the property. We make something that is unique for them and tailored to their needs, but still in the signature style of our studio. Couture Architecture is a thoughtful and detailed design based on the client’s needs and personality. The aim is for a perfect symbiosis between the client, the property and the design.

Yinjispace：What have you gained while working at Vincent Van Duysen?

I have gained a lot from my work for both David Adjaye in London and Vincent Van Duysen here in Belgiumhe, these are both amazing studios, working on the highest level and it was a fantastic opportunity to be able to start my career there. Ultimately though, I really wanted to create my own signature, so I actually started my architecture studio only 3 years after graduating.

Yinjispace：How do you practice "minimalism" in your work?

I have always been interested in very different architectural styles ranging from Minimalism to Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Baroque, and I try to visit as many different buildings as possible to learn something from all those experiences. I can be inspired by very opulent as well as minimalist styles and I think our work is situated somewhere in the middle. 

I think it’s very interesting to see how much you can reduce and what’s really essential. I appreciate minimalist spaces, they can be very moving, almost as a work of art. But for us, we will always add something again afterwards. 

Yinjispace：What do you think of oriental design?

Travelling is one of my biggest passions aside from architecture. I try to see as many inspiring places as possible. My wife Patricia and I plan at least one big inspirational trip a year and this journey has taken us to Asia on multiple occasions. We have visited Vietnam, India, Japan, Thailand, and one of the most memorable places we visited over the last years was definitely China. 

On each occasion we try to visit both historical palaces and temples, as well as modern architecture, new restaurants and hotels. We always come back from these trips completely recharged and full of ideas that we incorporate in our projects.