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Backstay Hostel
Van Damme & Baeyens refurbished a monument building in Ghent and transformed it into a brand new
hostel carrying the memories of the bulding's past.
News
Photography
Luc Roymans
Sections
News, Design
Published
25 November 2014
Keywords
Backstay Hostel, hostel, interior design, Nele
Van Damme & Yannick Baeyens, refurbishment
Location
Ghent
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The hostel found its home in the former tabling office of ‘Dagblad
Vooruit’ (Socialist newspaper) in the Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 128
in Ghent (Belgium).
Nele Van Damme & Yannick Baeyens, Backstay Hostel
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These premises dating from 1930, with their striking
frosted glass eclectic front designed by architect Brunfaut, are a
protected monument. After the ‘Dagblad Vooruit’ stopped its
activities, the premises were in the eighties modified into the
cultural house “Backstage” and until today it is still known to
most people under this name. The neighbouring premises on the
right side, with shop front, housed in the old days the pub ‘Hof
van Beroep’. These premises were also integrated in the project.
In 2013 a license was delivered to modify the monument into a
hostel with 108 beds.
The hostel is located in the middle of the university
nucleus of the city, opposite the renowned art centre Vooruit and
just minutes away from the historic city centre.
Nele Van Damme & Yannick Baeyens, Backstay Hostel
The renovation works took a little less than one year. The
entire renovation was done in a positive understanding with the
urban planning commission and in particular with the
department of Monuments’ Conservation.
Respecting the past of the building, an original total
concept was developed for the interior, the design and even the
atmosphere. Apart from the added value of the historic
architecture of the premises the hostel aims to be trendy and
international in a vibrant city of culture.
Nele Van Damme & Yannick Baeyens, Backstay Hostel
All furniture has been tailor-made. Through the opaque
windows of the facade a soft-filtered light enters the sleeping
quarters. At night the entire glass front bathes in light. This
nightly image of the building is without ado unique.
All dorms rooms and bedrooms are named after famous,
international newspapers (Le Monde, The New York Times, Die
Zeit, El País, La Stampa, The Guardian, etc.).
The renovation works were very intensive and a number
of setbacks – characteristic for such renovations – had to be
overcome.
Nele Van Damme & Yannick Baeyens, Backstay Hostel
The ground-floor bar is open to travellers, Ghent residents
and accidental visitors alike. The bar furniture was upholstered
with hundreds of wooden typesetting letters from the collection
of printing house Strobbe (Izegem). Colourful globes illuminate
the bar in a playful winky way. The plain but contemporary
design of the new bar modestly serves the adjoining protected
monumental spaces.
The lobby, bar, breakfast room and the terrace integrate
seamlessly in each other.
Nele Van Damme & Yannick Baeyens, Backstay Hostel
Backstay Hostel Ghent
Interior design and hostel concept: Nele Van Damme &
Yannick Baeyens
Contractor: Upgrade Estate nv
Completion: 2014
Photography
Luc Roymans
Sections
News, Design
Keywords
Backstay Hostel, hostel, interior design, Nele
Van Damme & Yannick Baeyens, refurbishment
Location
Ghent
Network
Like on Facebook
Pin to Pinterest
Share on Twitter