A timeless paving in a beautiful private garden in Sint-Martens-Latem

Harmonious connection between modern design and nature thanks to traditional clay pavers.

In the picturesque green Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium, we find a beautiful private garden around a new-build contemporary house, where the clay paver plays a prominent role in the design. This garden, located in a forest area, is an example of how traditional materials such as the Ancienne Belgique Lava clay paver can contribute to a contemporary and sustainable outdoor space.

The design of the garden

The garden is designed to provide a functional and aesthetic space on a relatively compact surface, with respect for the surrounding nature. A small part of the plot has been deforested for the house and a minimal garden, while the rest of the site retains its forest character. The street side, accessible via a dirt road, offers space for two cars and access to an underground garage. All paving is made of the same clay pavers, but in different patterns: herringbone for the driveway to the garage and irregular pattern for the other areas.

An impressive staircase of clay pavers leads to the front door of the house, which stands on an old sand dune. A path encloses the house and ends in a terrace at the rear. Furthermore, stairs lead to a swimming pool and a pool house, where clay pavers have also been used. These pavings are made in the tumbled lava variant, which provides a rustic and natural look.

Philosophy behind the design and choice of materials

The starting point of the design was to create a functional garden where indoor and outdoor life merge seamlessly, and where the forest elegantly transitions into the garden without disrupting its character. Evergreen, undulating hedges form the backbone of the garden in the winter months, maintaining structure and colour during the bare period.

The choice for clay pavers was made because of their natural and sustainable properties. “We have been convinced for a long time and we really like using the baked clay pavers, it is a natural and very sustainable product that will only get better with age”, says Antoine de Brouwer, the landscape architect. They are versatile, for example, in this project they were used for slopes, steps, indoor and outdoor paving, and even for a bench. This emphasises the flexibility and aesthetic advantage of clay pavers.

Clay pavers also combine well with other natural materials such as wood, natural stone and gravel. In this garden they create a harmonious whole together with the limewash of the house, the water of the pool and the green topiary. The different shades of the paving stones make it possible to create subtle and aesthetic combinations.

A unique feature of this garden is the bench that also functions as a staircase, designed to creatively absorb height differences. The soft curves of the bench break the hard lines of the steps, creating a playful and less heavy whole.

Planting and water management

The planting in the garden consists of sustainable species that are both evergreen and non-evergreen. Ornamental grasses, ferns and climbing plants create a balance that strengthens the architecture of the house and the garden and connects them with the surrounding forest.

Given the minimal deforestation and the sandy soil, infiltration crates have been used for the drainage of rainwater, which helps with efficient water management without taking up space for a wadi.

The clay paver Ancienne Belgique lava plays a crucial role in this beautiful garden in Sint-Martens-Latem. The combination of sustainability, aesthetics and versatility makes this clay paver an ideal choice for anyone who wants to create a timeless and functional outdoor space. This garden shows how traditional material can harmoniously combine modern design and nature.