vilarte's modular, marble pavilion by stefan.schöning.studio serves as outdoor hideaway

stefan.schöning.studio has designed a minimalist outdoor pavilion for new belgian brand vilarte that can be tailored to the personal needs and liking of its resident. three exclusive marbles serve as the foundation of the modular construction, which is based on a set, yet flexible framework. meanwhile, everything else can be decided by its owner, from the function – whether it’s an office space, guest house, art studio or private wellness area – and layout, to the type of marble, finishes and appliances.all images courtesy of vilarte and stefan.schöning.studio

together with stefan.schöning.studio, vilarte developed the minimalist, timeless pavilion to serve as an outdoor hideaway from the rush of everyday life. blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, the innovative, highly customizable construction combines a steel skeleton with vast surfaces of glass and marble. three exclusive marbles serve as the foundation of vilarte’s tailoring process, with shades ranging from ivory to pine green and belgian red. the color palette of ‘irish green’ brings to mind the vast emerald landscapes of ireland, while ‘rouge belge’ (belgian red limestone) acts as a warmer, yet intense alternative with a blend of white, burgundy and ruby hues. finally, ‘breccia italiana’, which is quarried in tuscany, is a crisp white marble with dark, grey and purple veining.

‘with the freedom I was granted by vilarte, I created an innovative design nothing like a traditional garden pavilion,’ explains stefan schöning. ‘from the use of noble materials like marble, steel and glass, to the elegant style collection that suits different tastes and preferences, to the countless possibilities of private spa, art gallery, guest room or cooking area – there’s freedom in every part of my design. freedom to choose, freedom to enjoy, freedom to live.’

the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown life that came with it has caused many people to look at their immediate surroundings from a different perspective. vilarte was born out of the need for an outdoor space to escape the rush of everyday life, disconnect, and reconnect with nature. ‘during the lockdown, we started seeing our own home and garden in a different light,’ notes belgian commercial engineer veerle claerhout, who founded vilarte together with pieter de vylder. ‘working from home had its perks, but it also came with some challenges. visual distractions, bad acoustics, two little kids demanding attention … the idea of having a hideaway outside of our own house, yet still close by, really appealed to us. but as we were looking for an inspiring garden space, none of them really suited all of our needs. particularly on an aesthetical level, we couldn’t find anything satisfying. so, we decided to create it ourselves. that’s how vilarte was born.’

‘as an industrial designer, I always admired the “case study houses” by renowned mid-century modern architects such as richard neutra, charles & ray eames and craig ellwood,’ adds schöning. ‘this movement is known and revered for its’ clean, simple lines and honest use of materials. for vilarte, my design approach was to achieve an exceptionally high standard of execution, with the flexibility and advantages of the industrial production process.’