Four triangular timber volumes shape coastal ‘house of cards’

House of Cards is a coastal residence in Koksijde, Belgium, designed by Vantieghem Talebi around the structural and zoning constraints of an existing foundation. The new house follows the foundation’s asymmetrical cruciform geometry, with each triangular bay forming a distinct volume resembling a house of cards. The design is limited to the maximum permitted height and draws on the steep rooflines of traditional beach houses in the area.

The exterior is clad in a timber rainscreen made from chemically seasoned Douglas fir battens, which continue across the steeply pitched roofs to create a consistent envelope. Prefabricated battens conceal fixings, while gutters and drainage systems sit behind the cladding. Each of the four triangular volumes is constructed from prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, assembled on-site over three days and joined through an off-center arrangement. This configuration leaves the main living level column-free, with each volume defining a separate room.

exterior view of House of Cards | all images ©Vantieghem TalebiExposed CLT panels and a floating staircase define the interior

The design team at Vantieghem Talebi utilizes the CLT structure as the interior finish. Four floor panels define the structural bays across the living area ceiling, while exposed timber panels follow the pitched roofs above the bedrooms and central hall. A floating staircase sits within a wood floor grid spanning the structural bays, making use of the open interior.

The house incorporates a Type D mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, along with rainwater collection and reuse. Outside, the dune landscape has been restored, while low concrete retaining walls provide pedestrian and vehicle access to the subterranean level. The existing foundation, site conditions, and planning restrictions inform both the building’s structure and its architectural form.

exterior view of House of Cardspedestrian entry cutvehicular entry cut