The Greenhouse in Belgium wasn’t designed as a traditional home. It was a proof-of-concept, a house built under a greenhouse, ecologically constructed and designed to function as independently as possible from external systems such as water and electricity. Koen approached it from an architectural perspective: How can we design a living environment that reduces reliance on external infrastructure?
Samia approached it from a strategic perspective: How does your environment influence the way you live, work and organise your life? It became an experiment in living differently, with fewer dependencies and more conscious choices. Today, it’s time for the next project.

Independence.
Living with Nature.
Our collaboration started long before this project.
Koen brings years of experience in architecture, sustainable building and ecological housing design. His work focuses on creating living environments that function as independently as possible from external systems, making use of what nature already provides in terms of climate, water and energy.
This vision took shape in the Greenhouse, an autonomous home built under a greenhouse in Belgium, designed to reduce reliance on external infrastructure by working with natural processes rather than against them.
Samia works with entrepreneurs who find themselves at a crossroads in life or business. Using BG5 (Business Human Design), she helps them understand how they make decisions, what environments support them and how they can organise their work and life in a more sustainable way.
Her interest in herbalism and nature-based living also plays a role in how this project is approached, not only as a building, but as an environment that supports independence, natural rhythms and long-term resilience.
Together, this allows us to approach a place not only as a physical structure,
but as a living system in which people, work and nature interact.
The Greenhouse was never meant to be the end goal. It was a proof-of-concept, an attempt to understand how architecture, environment and daily life could be brought into better alignment by reducing dependency on external systems. Living in a space designed around autonomy changed the way we approached not only housing, but also work, decision-making and long-term sustainability. Today, this next chapter brings us to Bulgaria. A different climate. A different environment. New possibilities to explore how living with nature, rather than around infrastructure, can shape the way we build and organise our lives.

Originally, the move to Bulgaria was driven by practical considerations, a more favourable fiscal environment and a lower cost of living, allowing us to relocate and structure our business in a more sustainable way.
Through a temporary stay arranged via Venke, we found ourselves living in closer proximity to people from different generations. This experience highlighted the value of shared environments, where knowledge, support and daily life are not organised in isolation, but in connection. It introduced a different way of thinking about living: less individualised, more intergenerational, and potentially more resilient in the long term.

Our experience in Bulgaria brought another question to the surface.
Many older people wish to remain in their familiar environment for as long as possible, maintaining their independence, while still having support close by when needed. At the same time, younger generations are increasingly confronted with the reality that owning an affordable home in countries like Belgium has become difficult, if not out of reach.
This project explores how smaller, nature-based communities could offer an alternative, where different generations live in proximity, share certain resources and support one another in everyday life. Allowing older residents to remain in place, while offering younger people access to more affordable housing options.

Homes can be designed to function with minimal reliance on external systems such as water and energy, increasing resilience in everyday living.
Shared living environments allow older residents to remain in place, while offering younger generations more accessible housing options.
By working with climate and natural conditions, living spaces can be designed in balance with their environment.
Smaller scale and shared use can make housing more accessible without compromising quality of life.


Holistic Strategic Partner

Ecologic Architect & Water Expert
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