Expressive brickwork exudes the craft of ‘brick making’

Not ‘just another brick in the wall’

The site of this remarkable house was originally an undeveloped building plot for a detached property on an old green parcel of land from the 1960s. However, the clients didn’t like the stereotypical conformist concept of a detached house on a neatly mowed lawn. They preferred the idea of really immersing themselves in the green surroundings and allowing the house to blend in with the garden as it were. The design had to be bold but also at one with the green surroundings.

It aims to realise the clean and pure use of materials by choosing ones which develop their own patina and actually tell their own individual story as a result. The interior features concrete floors and wooden parquet, in conjunction with simple white plastered walls and ceilings.

Veldbrand Red
The façade brickwork is executed in a typical local pure 'Scheldt brick' (the only one still available) processed with protruding mortar detail, giving a rough and organic look. A conscious decision was made to leave the steel lintels in the façades above the large window openings and the carport on show. Over time, the exterior will develop its own patina which will allow it to blend in more and more with its green surroundings as it were.

The house has a split-level layout, with flights of stairs connecting the individual levels. The kitchen and dining area are located on the ground floor against the rear façade, with the lounge half a level higher and the office area/reading corner on the next floor level up. The high ceiling in the lounge affords open lines of sight from the reading corner all the way through to the kitchen at the back of the house. Because of their position, ceiling height and the flooring used, all the living spaces are fully interconnected but still have their own unique atmosphere and relationship with the garden/street. The circulation throughout the house gives different perspectives and views outside. The bedrooms and bathroom, all situated on the first floor, are accessed via the wooden stairs which rise from the lounge and office void.

The exterior and the sleek way that the volume of the house is interpreted are a rough translation of the way that the interior of the house is organised. The carport has been created by taking a bite out of the building volume. It is easy to see how the office area, lounge and dining area engage with each other on the west side, giving the lounge a view of the garden and the street. On the east side, a narrow horizontal window slit high up brings light into the bathroom and parents’ bedroom while preserving privacy. The intention was also to allow the garden and the house to merge with each other, as it were. As a result, rather than a well-kept lawn, the design has been translated into a type of well-organised managed ruggedness.

Lander (Van Wassenhove Architecten): “The craft of ‘brick making’ is still clearly legible in the ‘Veldbrand’ brick. The sometimes overbaked bricks are almost a kind of historical relic, serving as a reminder of how bricks used to be made in the region. These pronounced bricks – often with coal burn marks – were deliberately used for the façade while the processing with protruding mortar also comes into its own.

Comparable case studies

BMCC, an urban renewal project that plays all the trump cards of the historic city centre

Bruges city centre is another rich attraction. The Beursplein (Exhibition Hall Square) now lives up to its name because since 31 March, it has boasted the brand new Bruges Meeting and Convention Centre (BMCC) where an impersonal car park used to mar the view. Designed by Souto de Moura Architects and META Architectuurbureau, this gem connects the neighbourhood in every respect while also attracting lots of tourists to the heritage city at the same time.