Architecture Wednesday: 17th-Century Religious Beguinage Renovation

Behind the sublime, deep red façade of this 17th century beguinage—Flemish beguinages were enclosed communities for unmarried or widowed religious women—sited on a super quiet ' île en ville '—island in town—in Ghent, Belgium that was completely renovated in 2015 into a modern home that retains much of the history and character of the original structure.

The entrance hall with its original wooden staircase is flanked by large steel-framed windows opening to the dining room and breakfast area, and a beautiful mantelpiece with wood stove; behind that is a fully equipped modern kitchen and a few steps is a home office. Across the foyer from the dining room is a large living room another beautiful mantelpiece, and entrance to a second dining room that opens to a courtyard garden. 

The second floor has 2 bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and a bathroom with shower and double sinks, along with a separate toilet. Under the original wooden trusses of the third floor is the primary bedroom with spacious, open dressing area and a large en suite bathroom with tub and shower behind a set of steel glass doors.

The home is 3,261 square-feet—three bedrooms and two baths—and can be yours for €1,945,000, or roughly $2,126,176 American dollars.

Dwell