Belgian style: Home accessory brand Zangra wins design award for Brussels flagship store

A colourful and quirky blend of retro and pop define the design aesthetic behind successful Belgian brand Zangra, which encompasses a new prestigious flagship store as well as a busy online business and holiday homes in the Belgian Ardennes.

The new lighting and home accessories shop has just won Brussels Design September’s ‘Commerce Design’ award in recognition for its renovation of “a shell space” in the city-centre and for being a creative workspace as well as “an inspiring shop”.

Its beautifully crafted retro lighting, fittings, tableware and enamelware include Art Deco design objects and ceramics, plus a curated selection of sanitary and storage options. 

Since opening in April, the store in Quai au Foin has certainly proved eye-catching. The striking shop window display features three chandeliers that create a stained glass effect with their kaleidoscope of rainbow reflections.

If a commitment to timeless design and sustainability lies at the heart of the brand, colour plays a playful and key role. All of the range is available in either a striking minimalist palette or bright candy hues.

Successful online business

Founded in 2009 by Flemish architect Eve Van Dyck and Brussels designer Thierry Donnay, Zangra was already an international online business operating from the Walloon village of Beauraing before the opening of its first store.

The concept behind the 200m2 retail space, which incorporates a showroom and an office area, is to provide customers with an immersive experience of the brand, its style and eco-friendly ethos.

"Our goal is to inspire our customers, stimulate their creativity and show them the endless possibilities that Zangra products offer," explains Van Dyck.

Two long wall cabinets are fitted along each side of the shop. One is hand made with vintage doors to underline the retro aspect, while the other by Belgian design icon Kewlox offers practical storage and display shelves.

Dutch graphic artist Nynke Tynagel was given carte blanche to create the spectacular window display. It employs three of Zangra’s playful chandeliers, Carousel, Tube and Twirly, which dazzle when the sun pierces the shop’s facade.

Passion for vintage

It was while renovating their 1850 Ardennes holiday home in 2003 that Van Dyck stumbled upon a dusty 100-year-old porcelain light fixture in the cellar. As she was cleaning it, she was struck by the quality and timeless beauty of the vintage porcelain piece, and was inspired to start designing her own light fixtures in the ceramic material for their home. “We didn’t realise it at the time, but this was the beginning of the Zangra success story.”

They sourced a factory in the French porcelain city of Limoges, but it required a minimum order of 100 light fittings. After easily selling the surplus to friends and fellow architects, the couple launched an online website. “The lights sold quickly and our collection expanded to include more lighting, bathroom accesso­ries and porcelain light switches.”

With business snowballing, they set up collaborations with porcelain factories worldwide, including Italy and China, to make the precision-moulded handmade crafted pieces. Although their range has expanded to other household items, ceramic remains a favourite. “It is durable, low-maintenance and timeless—perfectly aligning with our design philosophy,” points our Van Dyck.

Sustainable philosophy

The couple’s design process is also inspired by museum visits and travel abroad. For Van Dyck, the aim is not only to create beautiful products, but to contribute to a more sustainable world by using high-qual­ity, durable materials. “My hope is that 100 years from now, Zangra lights will still be as beautiful as the day they were made, just like that first light fitting I found in our cellar.”

Customer feedback has also proved influential. “Every day, they post photos of our designs in their homes on social media. It’s wonderful to see how our products become part of their everyday lives and how creatively they integrate them into their spaces.”

Zangra now boasts a 40-strong workforce and outsources simpler tasks to external companies so that the entrepreneurial pair can focus on new projects.

This includes their love affair with the Meuse Valley in Wallonia, where they are busy transforming run-down properties into Zangra holiday homes. Naturally, they are furnished with their own interior design range. One shining example is their riverside 1936 house in Hastière (pictured), where the sleek and contemporary styling reflects the elegant lines of the original Art Deco architecture.

Photos: (main image) ©Nils Gohr; interior images ©Kris Dekeijser; Hastiere villa @Stefanie Faveere