Glass‑brick Belgian Homes : glass brick house

The Glass Brick House by Delmulle Delmulle architecten in Ghent combines a discreet street façade with a fully glazed upper volume that overlooks lush courtyard gardens. Set behind a closed, slate-pedestal base, the house preserves neighborhood privacy while introducing a serene oasis within.

The architect duo designed the glass-clad first floor as a lightweight wooden box that appears to float above the planted courtyards, with large windows flooding interiors with daylight. Inside, this luminous volume hosts communal spaces—living, dining, and kitchen—where natural materials like timber ceilings and muted tones create warmth and contrast against the urban backdrop.

By layering dense greenery at ground level and elevating human spaces above, the design orchestrates a dialogue between privacy, openness, and nature. The retracting façade along the street ensures calm separation, while rooftop planting and courtyard gardens enhance biodiversity and microclimate. This approach reframes urban living: a transparent volume atop a protective plinth allows residents to feel connected to the sky and greenery, despite a tight site. The result is a peaceful, light-filled home that fuses architecture and landscape in a refined, context-sensitive gesture.

Image Credit: Johnny Umans