Studio Loho’s Jonojé is a unique project that challenges traditional notions of beauty and functionality. Located in a former brush factory on the outskirts of Bruges, Jonojé is a six-suite B&B that doubles as a showroom, gallery, photo studio, and living space.
The project is the brainchild of Studio Loho, a Belgian practice founded in 2017 by Karel Loontiens and Jo Hoeven. With Jonojé, they aim to create a space that is both beautiful and thought-provoking, pushing visitors out of their comfort zone in a thrilling way.
A Total Concept
Jonojé is more than just a hotel – it’s a total concept that encompasses a listed building of over 1,000 square meters, a director’s residence, and a 1,250-square-meter garden. Each of the six 75-square-meter suites has its own unique atmosphere, built using a range of materials and techniques developed in-house.
The suites feature organically plastered walls, freestanding ceramic shower cubicles, clay washbasins, and organic ceramic switches designed by Maison Kallis. The Roku suite, for example, incorporates bamboo-slat structures, while cast floors in other suites are decorated with graphic motifs made from clay residues.
Related: Who shapes Australia every day
One of the standout features of Jonojé is the ceramic bathtub, molded and fired from a single piece of clay. This piece, which put Studio Loho on the international map, captures the essence of the project’s push-pull between simplicity and sculptural elements.
Throughout Jonojé, visitors can experience moments of quiet respite, followed by unexpected encounters with strange and glorious elements. This contrast is deliberate, aiming to challenge visitors’ expectations and create a truly unforgettable experience.
Studio Loho’s founders, Loontiens and Hoeven, believe in a renewed vision of interior design, where longevity and beauty are prioritized over disposability. They see the rooms of a home as canvases for expression, where form and function meet in harmony.
“We believe in a renewed vision of interior design,” say Loontiens and Hoeven. “The rooms of a home are no longer purely functional; they become canvases for expression—places of beauty and comfort… where form and function meet in harmony.”
Related: Oxford wreck reborn in graceful restoration
Redefined Notions of Beauty
Jonojé’s unique blend of simplicity and sculptural elements raises questions about traditional notions of beauty. Rather than asking whether it’s beautiful or ugly, perhaps the better question is what it means to experience a space that challenges our expectations and pushes us out of our comfort zone.
As visitors handle the suites and gardens of Jonojé, they may find themselves reconsidering what beauty means to them. Is it the quiet, organic plastered walls, or the bold, graphic motifs made from clay residues? The answer, much like Jonojé itself, is complex and complex.
In the midst of this complexity, one thing is clear: Jonojé is a project that will leave a lasting impression on all who experience it. With its unique blend of art, design, and functionality, it’s a space that will continue to inspire and provoke long after visitors have left.
For more information on Studio Loho and their work, visit their official website.
Leave a Reply