Entertainment · Books & Arts · 14 hrs ago
Vincent Van Duysen says natural materials and light can make homes calmer
Belgian architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen says homes should help people feel protected, calm and able to switch off.
He is known for what is called “warm minimalism,” using simple forms, natural materials and light.
He says controlled lighting, balanced proportions and spaces with fewer visual distractions can ease the sense of constant stimulation.
His examples include Casa M, his home in Portugal, and a hospitality project under way in Comporta, where villas are designed to blend into the landscape.
He applies the same approach to furniture, aiming for comfortable pieces that support daily life without dominating a room.
For an existing home, he suggests clearing unnecessary items, making the most of natural light and keeping objects with practical or emotional value.
He says materials that age well and timeless design can support wellbeing and help homes remain appealing over time.
The interview does not set out a specific next step or timeline for the Comporta project.
Belgian architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen says natural materials, controlled light and balanced proportions can help make homes calmer.
He aims to create spaces where people feel protected and can disconnect from the outside world.
Van Duysen says natural materials can develop an attractive patina over time.
He applies the same approach to architecture, interiors and furniture, favouring understated forms and designs intended to last.
He described his approach in an interview published by Corriere della Sera.
- Who
- Vincent Van Duysen, a Belgian architect and designer and creative director of Molteni&C.
- What
- He described how design choices such as natural materials and controlled light can help homes feel calm and protective.
- When
- The interview was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Not stated. He discussed projects in Portugal and Comporta.
- Why
- He said homes can offer protection from overstimulation and support wellbeing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Interview publication date
- 12 October 2026
- Designer
- Vincent Van Duysen
- Creative director
- Molteni&C
- Residence and refuge
- Casa M in Portugal
- Hospitality project
- JNcQUOI Club in Comporta
What people are saying
The first goal is to create spaces in which people feel protected and serene, like cocoons where they can switch off, find their centre and recharge.
Architecture can counter overstimulation by creating a kind of visual silence, through controlled light, natural and tactile materials, balanced proportions and spaces that are sometimes deliberately darker and softer, or through a play of solids and voids.
The goal is not austerity, but to calm the senses and create an environment in which it is possible to disconnect from the outside world.
I would start by removing the superfluous to arrive at the essential, but without creating an empty or soulless environment — objects need room to breathe.
Sources
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