The Alex Guesthouse is a sculptural and cinematic retreat designed by the Ghent-based firm Atelier Vens Vanbelle for a client in the film industry. Located in the idyllic Uitbergen region of East Flanders, Belgium, the project was created with a single directive: to build something that his guests would remember forever. The guesthouse was completed in 2020. The design is a sequence of unfolding experiences that take guests on a journey from the familiar to the surreal. Guests enter the main house, walk through a garden and bicycle shed, and descend a staircase into a long, disorienting, and dark underground corridor. The journey culminates in the guesthouse itself, which is reached via a spiral staircase that rises from the basement. From the exterior, the guesthouse appears as an abstract, Corten steel-clad tower, sometimes likened to a lighthouse or a submarine. The facade is designed to weather naturally and blend with the surrounding landscape of trees, a nearby castle, and the river Schelde. The spiral staircase continues past the guesthouse to a unique watchtower. A glass dome at the tip of the tower floods the staircase with light, and the highest level features an outdoor shower that offers a unique connection to the surrounding nature. The guesthouse was designed as a single, large piece of furniture and constructed layer by layer from laminated veneer lumber (LVL) in an off-site studio. It was then transported to the location in four sections and rebuilt on-site. Interior and layout The guesthouse and its subterranean extension offer a variety of intimate and atmospheric spaces. The "wooden cave": The guest area, located on the first floor, is a serene space crafted entirely from layered LVL wood, creating a "wooden cave" or "grotto" effect. The wood forms the floors, walls, ceilings, and even the custom furniture, including a bed base and bookcase. Framed views: Two large, circular windows puncture the wooden interior, framing specific views of the garden and the neighboring castle. Underground cinema and bar: The underground level contains a dark and moody cinema and a small bar, providing a private space for entertaining and screen previews. Terrace: A small, private terrace is located on the slope outside the entrance, offering guests a place to enjoy the evening sun.

Project credits Architect: Atelier Vens Vanbelle Team: Dries Vens and Maarten Vanbelle Client: Private Photography: Tim Van de Velde Location: Uitbergen, East Flanders, Belgium