BLAF architecten clusters geometric brick volumes to form its fmM house in belgium

BLAF architecten presents its fmM house as a composition of simple volumes expressed with exposed concrete and brickwork. the house occupies a residential neighborhood of mechelen, a city in northern belgium between brussels and antwerp. the design team seeks to investigate the dialogue between art, architecture, and nature, exploring their influences on each other. with this in mind, the dwelling is realized with the language of sculptural form. the team comments: ‘in our quest for buildability, affordability, circular, energetic and economic efficiency, we allow ourselves to be guided by geometric abstraction.’

images ® stijn bollaert | @stijn_bollaert

seeking a language of geometric abstraction, BLAF architecten organizes its fmM house in plan as a collection of circles and squares. the resulting brick volumes form the basic structure that supports a flat spanning roof. the wooden structure of the interstitial space perforates with surgical precision these massive forms, creating an alternation of enclosed and open outdoor spaces. the brick volumes carry the solid concrete roof between each other, and host both living spaces and courtyards. this hybrid building method celebrates the specific qualities of each material and ensures a high-performance construction. in addition to its performance, the hybrid structure ensures different experiences, atmospheres, and sounds. 

the brick volumes of BLAF architecten’s fmM house are programmed with private and serving spaces. these include sleeping areas, a yoga room, bathroom, storage and entrance vestibule. these cloistered areas open onto an enclosed ‘outdoor’ space, or the interstitial zone between the brick volumes. this lofty and centralized area is flooded with natural sunlight and is equally oriented in each direction — there are no designated front, side, or rear facades. the design team continues: ‘this double-height central space forms the theater for current and future uses. it has the potential to apply secondary structures, allowing it to respond to changes in program.’

project info:

project title: fmM house

architecture: BLAF architecten

location: mechelen, belgium

completion: 2019

photography: ® stijn bollaert | @stijn_bollaert