Maarten van Severen (1956–2005) was a Belgian designer known for his uncompromising pursuit of purity, proportion, and intellectual rigor in furniture and interior design. Working largely from his own studio in Ghent, he approached objects as architectural elements, stripping them of ornament to focus on structure, balance, and the relationship between the body and space. His work often feels austere at first glance, yet reveals a deep sensitivity to use and presence, expressing comfort through precision rather than softness. Van Severen resisted trends and commercial excess, favoring slow, thoughtful development and absolute control over form. Today, he is regarded as a seminal figure in contemporary European design, whose legacy lies in a quiet but radical redefinition of modern minimalism.