Master Class: Marc Merckx's Belgian Pool House—Quiet Luxe in Black Timber

After 15 years with Belgian master architect Vincent Van Duysen, Marc Merckx designs with a “constant search for the perfect balance between proportions, materials, and space.” His dark, spare pool house reflects that philosophy—elegantly minimal, quietly luxurious.

Black Steel and Timber

Antwerp-based Merckx launched a garden furniture line with Pieter Maes for Tribú. A black steel pergola visually connects the pool house to the swimming pool. The pool house wears a black timber facade.

Interior: Neutral and Natural

Inside, a neutral palette and natural materials reinforce the nature connection. A trough sink—simple shape, exaggerated proportions—becomes the room’s focus. Tongue-and-groove paneling conceals storage.

Pool as Mirror

The pool surface is a dark, moody blue, reflecting sky and surrounding trees. Merckx’s work proves that restraint, when precisely calibrated, yields profound presence.