X avier Lust’s new home and showroom in
the leafy Ixelles neighbourhood of Brussels is an early
modernist structure that still bears a sign declaring
‘Imprimerie des Sciences’, a relic of its past as the
nearby university’s in-house print shop. It is lower in
height than the neighbouring buildings, but Lust was
drawn to its ample floor space. ‘I started my career with
no money, no collection, and no space’, says the Belgian
furniture and interior designer. ‘My previous house
had small rooms, tiny stairs. I needed a place like this.’
The building’s two-year restoration involved only
relatively minor modifications, bar one major change
of Lust’s own devising. Together with a local
glassmaker, he developed laminated glass skylights
to replace four polycarbonate half-cylinder ceilings
on the ground floor. The double glazing shuts out
all noise, from the lively chatter of the nearby school
playground to the pattering of rain, and creates
fascinating patterns of light on the showroom walls.
‘Renovating was not easy or fun,’ says Lust, ‘but
I really appreciate it now that it’s finished. I can
combine work with life here. There are no hours for
me; I work all the time, everywhere, anywhere.
My brain is always active. We designers are all like that.
It’s more difficult when you have a family. Sometimes
they require your presence when you’re not ready,’
he laughs, referring to his girlfriend and their young
son. ‘Now I’m closer, and can say hi a few times a day.’ (^) »
ABOVE, THE LIVING ROOM,
WITH LUST’S ‘EMINENCE’
CHAIR AND STOOL; ‘BAOBAB’
COAT STAND FOR MDF ITALIA;
‘CONE’ CHAIR FOR A LOT
OF BRASIL; ‘MOUNTAINS’
COFFEE TABLE; AND ‘SUMO’
SOFA FOR CERRUTI BALERI
RIGHT, LUST ON ONE
OF THE BALCONIES OF THE
1927 BUILDING, A FORMER
PRINTWORKS IN BRUSSELS’
IXELLES NEIGHBOURHOOD
In Residence
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