Seven years ago we discovered this very cute and beautiful village in the Belgian Ardennes. We rented an apartment and walked in nature every day. In front of our house there was a small entrance to a hiking path. Next to this path there was a big shed with a piece of land. Sometimes I spoke with the owner and he gave me a small tour through the building. What I discovered was that this old pig shed was liveable. Already 3 families had called this their (holiday) home. I started to be very curious and told my husband about my idea of buying the place one day. My dream was to build a centre where we can receive people to connect more with themselves and with nature. A place where you can forget your everyday life routine and come back to your true self. The one you really are.
Through nature experiences, coaching sessions, cultural expressions, teambuilding, organic food, organic products, social media communities, podcasts, movies and retreats.
A place that gives you back the feeling that there exists a bit of heaven on earth.
OUr sustainable project
In January 2020, we had the chance to buy the place and the land. We knew it would be a lot of work to renovate the whole building, but we have this inner urge to just do it.
We have asked Ecospace Studios Belgium and TVB Bastogne to help us with this project, to realise a real sustainable building what will be self sustainable and well integrated in nature. With raw & natural materials and innovative methods of constructing.
Read more at the bottom of this page
Who Are we?
Nine years ago we met in Turkey. After three days we were sure, we wanted to be together. So three weeks later I was on the plane to go to Tunisia, where Mo comes from. A few holidays later we decided to work together in Turkey. We worked as animators in a luxury hotel. We did dance and comedy shows, we did sports activities with adults en teenagers and last but not least we had much fun together. It was in may 2012 that he asked me to marry him. Ofcourse I said yes, he was the one for me. If you can stand a long distance relationship and working 80 hours together in a different country without any problems and still love, you just know it. After our traditional Tunisian / European mixed wedding we lived for a while in the capital of Tunesia, Tunis. Here I worked for a Belgian company that was looking for Dutch speaking people. It was a great time.
As I missed to share my European culture with my husband and we wanted to upgrade our future situation, we jumped into a new adventure together. We moved to Belgium. We knew people in Bastogne and found out that this place was what we were looking for. A place in the middle of nature where there is still some culture and citylife nearby. A place near the highway E25 which goes directly to my roots (the Netherlands). A place where people are speaking French, which is my husbands' second language. A place with work opportunities. A place were we both felt comfortable. A place were we like to live.
We found work, we were happy, we travelled. When suddenly the feeling came up, that we wanted to really invest in a home. A home that will be our base. We still like to travel and we will still jump into adventures, but we both really needed one place where everything can come together. Our place, our own island in the chaotic everyday life. A place that is ours and we can always come back to. An investment for our life.
We have found it.
the garden and foodforest
Renovating the house in a sustainable palace
Cultural expressions
EcoSPace Studios belgium - our architects
''Ecospace was developed more than 15 years ago by our London partner, IPT architects in response to today’s environmental, economic and space challenges. The idea was to create a building of high environmental quality, at a fixed price and with a short delivery time, by managing the design, which could simply be adapted, reconfigured or extended, and applied to different types of use and building typologies. We focus on creating architectural solutions that not only focus on sustainability and the environment but also meet customer requirements. But what about the future? We are constantly coming up with new and innovative ideas and we will not stop. Because as architects, we are perfectionists!''
''Ecospace® is managed by the architects who also own the ART48 architectural firm. We are a young and dynamic team, working from our headquarters in Brussels on both architectural and interior projects. Our fields of expertise are varied (collective and residential housing, offices, commerce, interior design, etc.).''
Located in Bastogne, TVB is a Belgian family company. Active since 1995 in the design and construction of wooden constructions, they are considered as an essential reference in the sector. The TVB team has around thirty enthusiasts. In their workshop, they give shape to robust projects that highlight the timeless beauty of wood.
Source: https://www.tvb.be/ossature-bois/
Do you like to support our sustainable dream?
Together we can make it happen! Thank you from our hearts! For a bit of heaven on earth