Belgian studio BLAF Architecten used reclaimed bricks to build this house in Ghent with an irregular shape that curves around existing trees.
Called GjG House, the project is set in the grounds of a 19th-century mansion very close to a main road, so the trees act as a screen.
"Instead of cutting the trees, the house was shaped to fit in between them," explained BLAF Architecten.
Existing trees were left undisturbed
BLAF Architecten re-used existing bricks to create the curvilinear walls of the house to cut down on waste, with wood and steel as supporting materials.
Tall, rectangular windows puncture the walls and there are glass doors on the ground floor to bring even more light to the interiors.
Reclaimed bricks were used for sustainability The studio said it wanted to show off the qualities of using real brick instead of a stuck-on facade.
"Since the introduction of energy performance standards (EPB) in 2006, thermal insulation in building skins gradually got thicker, causing a shift towards light and low-cost facade cladding materials," said BLAF Architecten.
"As for brick buildings, this meant an evolution towards brick tiles glued onto buildings as 'exterior wallpaper'," added the studio.
Inside there are high ceilings with wooden beams
This supposedly environmentally-friendly mode of construction could actually create more waste and pollution further down the line, the studio said.
"We noticed a construction method with layers glued ...