The detached villa by architect Roger De Winter (1923-2001) in Zemst has been empty for many years because the owners did not want to invest in renovation and insulation of the house. As a result, it has been declared uninhabitable by the municipality. The demolition permit came to the dissatisfaction of the son of the architect, Paul De Winter (71), who wanted to prevent the demolition.
He is followed in this by many heritage enthusiasts who want to protect Villa Vaeck as a modernist heritage. An online petition quickly gathered 4,000 opponents of the demolition works.
Paul De Winter appealed against the demolition permit at the beginning of April, after which the demolition work was halted for sixty days. However, the house has largely been demolished today. The mayor of Zemst, Veerle Geerinckx (N-VA), says to VRT NWS that he is shocked. “Because as long as the appeal procedure is ongoing, the demolition permit cannot be implemented.”
Work on the building had already been reported on Friday, but after a check by the police it turned out that “it only concerned the removal of a few asbestos plates, which had to be done anyway. The police then issued a warning to the owner.”
In the meantime, structural and far-reaching demolition works have been carried out. Geerinckx says he will follow up on the case, but will wait for the decision in the appeal procedure for the time being.
