Heydays Office Building in Deinze, Belgium by Vens Vanbelle

Standing loud and proud in a street fronted with an ensemble of brick facades is the coaching specialist company office Heydays. This three-storey vibrant and unmissable building is designed by Vens Vanbelle, who skilfully imploded eye-catching patterns to expressively display the client’s principles while still being able to incorporate a relationship with the site that it sits upon.

Located in Denize, Belgium, Heydays stands on a relatively narrow plot that was once occupied by a brothel. Now surrounded by many commercial companies and wedged between a major road at the front and the Leie River at the rear, the architects used the building as an opportunity to mediate the tension between the chaotic road and the peaceful landscape.

Matching the vivacious nature of the road, the architects dressed Heydays in a mesmerising checkerboard façade, intentional in matching the company’s belief in ‘stand(ing) out in the crowd’. The overwhelming greeting doesn’t stop there though, for upon entry visitors are greeted by a corridor enthusiastically dressed in yellow white chevron ‘warp’ pattern from the ceiling to the wall, and then to the floor. The elongated volume—known as the heart of the building—allows for initial gathering while finding time to absorb the variety of atmospheres.

Despite the visibly loud first impressions of the office environment, the interior gradually mellows into a homely and zen-like interior. Tucked behind the trippy wall are office spaces which are draped in minimalist timber and white, although one is framed with a timber-framed glass wall to encapsulate the overarching vibe of the company.

Across the three levels is a central white staircase bathed in skylight. Travelling upwards to each level, the rooms become calmer in colour tone, with sightlines oriented purposefully towards the river views, enabling a relaxed environment. For the working spaces, Vens Vanbelle lines selected walls with a selection of birch ply for the walls and plush red or green carpets for the floors to offer pops of joy. Breakout spaces are included on the first and second floor, which includes a luxurious veranda/balcony that captures the peaceful waterfront and a rooftop terrace to reinforce the integral connection with nature.

No strangers to working with bold expressions, Vens Vanbelle are showstoppers when making everlasting first impressions while still giving space for fresh eyes to decompress. It’s an exciting way to hype up employers and intrigued clients when entering a workspace—truly the charming nature and practising belief of Heydays.