hkZ House by BLAF Architecten: Sustainable Housing with Concrete Mesh in Zele

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Modern concrete house with large glass windows and a pool, demonstrating contemporary architecture and minimalist design

Redefining the Single-Family Home

In Zele, Belgium, BLAF Architecten designed the hkZ House, which serves both as a residential home and an exploration of current issues in spatial planning, sustainable development, housing accessibility, and housing policy. Completed in 2020, the 2152 square foot house stands out due to its innovative concrete mesh structure, defining a robust architectural boundary while maintaining openness and transparency to the surrounding green environment.

Concrete Mesh Structure

The house area includes heated living volume, as well as private outdoor spaces, all situated within a rhythmic grid of concrete columns and circular beam. This construction outlines a clear form in the landscape, without relying on fences or land divisions. Closed and open zones alternate smoothly, creating a flexible boundary that preserves the natural topography of the site.

Within this grid, facades shift between stone, wood, and glass, creating a balance between strength and transparency. Slanted glazed walls open the house from various angles, while wooden cladding on the south side reduces overheating, optimizing comfort and energy efficiency.

Orientations and Energy Logic

Spaces are carefully planned with orientation and ecological logic in mind.

First floor: leisure zones, parents' bedroom, kitchen and essential facilities allowing for lifelong living in the house.
Half-basement: children's bedrooms oriented toward views of the garden, benefiting from stable temperatures and reduced energy consumption.

This strategic layout maximizes natural lighting, ventilation and thermal efficiency, demonstrating BLAF’s commitment to sustainable development, extending beyond mere energy metrics.

Interior-Exterior Integration

A distinctive feature of the hkZ House is the integration of 'outdoor rooms', which are formed from structural mesh into living space. These sheltered zones blur the boundary between interior and exterior, offering transitional areas that extend living spaces into the garden.

Minimal paved surfaces—limited to permeable driveways and car paths—preserve the natural appearance of the site. The design ensures the house blends into its green environment, avoiding unnecessary disruption to the landscape.

Sustainability as Design Philosophy

The hkZ House reflects BLAF Architecten’s vision of architecture as a response to increasingly complex housing challenges. Experimenting with the genetic model of a single-family home, the project balances circular economy, accessibility and ecological responsibility. The result is an innovative yet deeply contextual house designed not as an isolated object, but as a dialogue with place and society.