Pedestal Desk for the Lucien Brull Residence – Charles Vandenhove

Charles Vandenhove (1927–2019). Rare modernist desk in solid afzelia, black linoleum top and two-drawer plywood pedestal.

• Dimensions: W 110 x D 65 x H 74 cm
• Drawers: D 37 x H 9 cm
• Usable depth of document holder section: 64 cm
• Restoration carried out by our workshop
• Very slight marks of use on the linoleum

Charles Vandenhove Desk – Lucien Brull Residence Program

This solid afzelia desk designed by Charles Vandenhove is part of the furniture developed for the Lucien Brull university residence in Liège in the 1960s. Conceived for daily use, it favors clear and durable construction, adapted to a collective environment.

Rather than a purely formal approach, Vandenhove develops furniture here directly linked to architecture. The proportions, the integration of the pedestal, and the choice of materials respond to a logic of use, where each element finds its place without superfluous effect.

The linoleum top, combined with a solid wood structure, expresses this desire for balance between resistance, comfort, and legibility. The design remains sober, yet never neutral, with particular attention paid to execution details.

Documented in the Lucien Brull residence booklet, this model bears witness to a specific moment in Liège architecture, where furniture and building participate in the same reflection.

A representative piece of Charles Vandenhove’s work in the 1960s, at the crossroads of modernist design and a more use-anchored approach.

Extract from the Lucien Brull University Residence brochure

Restoration

Although it was in very good condition, the piece was completely disassembled in our workshop, each element inspected and cleaned. The joints were checked and tightened when necessary to ensure the stability of the whole.

The afzelia surfaces were prepared then nourished to restore their depth and original appearance. The areas of use were preserved in a logic of respect for the material and its history.

The linoleum top was replaced identically. It shows only very slight marks of use, consistent with the age of the piece.

A measured intervention, aimed at preserving the integrity of the desk while ensuring reliable daily use.