Patrick Mets, an architect, always loved old industrial buildings, especially water towers.
As a kid in Belgium, he often dreamed of living in one. Many years later, he got to fulfill this dream.
Patrick and his partner, Valérie, searched for a water tower in the Belgian countryside for a year and a half. They found a rundown one near Brussels and decided it was perfect for their future home.
Despite the tower being abandoned for years and needing lots of work, Patrick bought it for $43,000. However, getting the permits took seven years, and renovations cost around $2.1 million. But in 2009, their dream home, called “Chateau d’eau” (Water Castle), was complete.
Working with designer Mauro Brigham, they created a modern look while preserving the water tower’s original features. The living area, bedrooms, and a cool bathroom are all inside the original water tank. There’s even a rooftop patio with a water pipe for cooling off.
Patrick and Valérie lived there for four years before moving closer to their daughters’ school. They rented out the tower for events afterward. It’s still a landmark in the village, drawing attention from passersby.
Despite the challenges, Patrick achieved his childhood dream of living in a water tower.
