This family home in Brussels balances rawness and refinement
A family home in the southern suburbs of Brussels, courtesy of Nicolas Schuybroek Architects, combines a discreet presence with functionality and minimalism

Located in the southern outskirts of Brussels, in the leafy suburb of Grez-Doiceau, this residence is the brainchild of Belgian architect Nicolas Schuybroek and his young studio. It was also the first ground-up, new build house for the dynamic firm, which was set up less than ten years ago.
The project, a home for a private client who was after a distinctly contemporary structure in a part of town mostly dominated by a more conventional housing stock, presented a series of challenges – such as fitting in within its locale, both in terms of planning permission and neighbourly relations, and ensuring everything in the fairly generous programme works harmoniously within a single level, as the client specifically asked for flat, single level living. The last also helped drive the solution.
‘The single storey concept allowed us to solve different issues,' explains Schuybroek. ‘The volume didn’t block the views of the neighbours, allowed for a very discreet integration within the natural surroundings and gave our client a range of perspectives on the forest landscape and the golf course beyond.'
Schuybroek's series of volumes stretch out the floorplan into a sequence of interconnected pavilions. Courtyards and openings are interspersed through the layout and floor-to-ceiling glazing and windows at strategic places establish a strong relationship between indoors and outdoors. ‘You don’t discover all the different aspects at once, all the views it takes in,' says the architect. ‘The effect is to create different experiences within the same house.'
The volumes are clad in a light coloured, unifying grey brick, which almost blends in with the sky, enveloping the structure in a certain softness. ‘The grey brick was a revision of our initial idea, concrete,' says Schuybroek. ‘Instead, we used a raw grey brick, with joints in the same color, and brush-spread the grout over the brick. It has the solid feel of concrete but much more texture. It’s raw and refined at the same time.'
INFORMATION
ns-architects.com
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Offbeat placing, diamonds and cool cuts: Shahla Karimi’s architecturally inspired jewellery
Fine jewellery is given a cool spin by the New York-based designer Shahla Karimi, who riffs off architectural references for her eponymous brand
By Hannah Silver Published
-
We drive the new Jaecoo 7, a Chinese SUV that wants to redefine the meaning of premium
Perhaps surprisingly, the new J7 isn’t an EV; instead it’s got a Super Hybrid System at its heart, and a list of high-tech kit that never ends
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
What makes fashion and art such good bedfellows?
There has always been a symbiosis between fashion and the art world. Here, we look at what makes the relationship such a successful one
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
Tour Marche Arboretum, a new 'museum' of plants in Belgium
Marche Arboretum is a joyful new green space in Belgium, dedicated to nature and science – and a Wallpaper* Design Award 2025 winner
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards 2025: celebrating architectural projects that restore, rebalance and renew
As we welcome 2025, the Wallpaper* Architecture Awards look back, and to the future, on how our attitudes change; and celebrate how nature, wellbeing and sustainability take centre stage
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Step through Rubenshuis’ new architectural gateway to the world of the Flemish painter
Architects Robbrecht en Daem’s new building at Rubenshuis, Antwerp, frames Rubens’ private universe, weaving a modern library and offices into the master’s historic axis of art and nature
By Tim Abrahams Published
-
Remembering Alexandros Tombazis (1939-2024), and the Metabolist architecture of this 1970s eco-pioneer
Back in September 2010 (W*138), we explored the legacy and history of Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis, who this month celebrates his 80th birthday.
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Green Ark, a new garden pavilion from modified softwood, is conceived for plant conservation
The Green Ark, set in the heart of Belgium's Meise Botanic Garden, is an ultra-sustainable visitor pavilion by NU Architectuur Atelier
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Residence Norah is a modernist Belgian villa transformed to its owner’s needs
Residence Norah by Glenn Sestig in Belgium’s Deurle transforms an existing gallery space into a flexible private meeting area that perfectly responds to its owner’s requirements
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Sun-drenched Los Angeles houses: modernism to minimalism
From modernist residences to riveting renovations and new-build contemporary homes, we tour some of the finest Los Angeles houses under the Californian sun
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Bruges Triennial 2024 takes over the city with contemporary art and architecture
Bruges Triennial 2024, themed 'Spaces of Possibility', considers sustainability and liveability within cities, looking towards a greener future
By Ellie Stathaki Published