- Project: fmM House
- Architect: BLAF Architecten
- Location: Belgium, Mechelen
- Year: 2019
- Area: 172 m2
- Photography: Stijn Bollaert
A Sculptural Approach to Living
The fmM House in Mechelen, Belgium, designed by BLAF Architecten, is a residence that blurs the line between architecture and sculpture. Inspired by geometric abstraction, the project explores how art, nature, and sustainability can converge into a built form. Circles and squares, reinterpreted as structural masonry volumes, define the home’s architectural language and serve as the foundation for its hybrid construction system.
Hybrid Construction for Performance and Sustainability
The house’s structure combines brick masonry volumes with a wooden insulated framework, each material used for its inherent qualities. The brick elements anchor the building, enclosing private and service-oriented spaces such as bedrooms, a yoga room, bathrooms, storage, and the entrance. These massive volumes also support the solid concrete roof that spans across them.
In contrast, the wooden structure perforates the brick volumes with surgical precision, creating a rhythm of open and enclosed spaces. This hybrid approach achieves more than structural performance: it establishes a sustainable, circular, and energy-efficient model of building that minimizes waste while enhancing durability.
Spatial Organization and Experience
The design creates a sequence of alternating indoor and outdoor spaces, erasing the notion of a traditional front, side, or rear façade. Instead, the home opens equally to the east, south, west, and north, engaging with its natural surroundings from all angles.
A double-height central space serves as a flexible “theater” for daily life, designed to adapt to changing needs over time. Intermediate spaces flow seamlessly between inside and outside, allowing for dynamic interactions with the environment. The play of materials—solid brick, warm wood, and exposed concrete—creates varied atmospheres, sounds, and tactile experiences throughout the residence.
Reduced to the Essentials
By distilling structure and materiality to their essence, BLAF Architecten achieved a home that is at once minimal and expressive. The fmM House demonstrates how thoughtful geometry and hybrid construction can deliver affordability, efficiency, and sustainability without compromising architectural richness.
