Founded in Antwerp in 2013 by Arno Broeckhoven and Ellen Van Laer, Æ Studio has grown into an interior architecture practice defined by material richness, thoughtful curation and a timeless approach to design. Together with associate architect Floriane Alderweireldt, the founders lead a multidisciplinary team working across residential and commercial projects. Each project begins as a dialogue between architect and client, evolving through close collaborations with a trusted network of Belgian craftsmen and specialised makers. A deep understanding of materials and construction techniques, combined with an affinity for natural and authentic elements, informs interiors that feel deeply personal while remaining rooted in the character and potential of the space itself. Æ Studio creates interiors that feel layered and enduring, spaces that reveal their richness gradually and become more meaningful over time.
At the heart of Æ Studio's identity lies a passion for architecture and design history. Modernist principles, mid-century furniture and collectible design frequently inform the studio's work, creating interiors where different periods coexist effortlessly. Carefully sourced vintage pieces, contemporary furnishings, bespoke architectural interventions and curated artworks are considered as part of a single composition from the earliest stages of a project. This layered approach results in spaces that resist trends and easy categorization - interiors that feel equally relevant today as they might decades from now.
Materiality plays a defining role throughout the work. Natural stone, timber, mineral finishes and richly textured fabrics are combined with restraint, allowing the inherent qualities of each material to emerge naturally. Rather than relying on decorative statements, the interiors derive their atmosphere from texture, proportion, light and craftsmanship. Warmth is expressed through tactile surfaces, nuanced detailing and subtle material transitions. This restrained approach extends to the studio's curatorial sensibility, where furniture, objects and artworks are given room to breathe within calm architectural settings. The result is an interior language in which art, materials and everyday life coexist in quiet balance.
