Delmulle Delmulle Architecten's Glass Brick House Spotlights an 'Inverted' Double Façade
The Glass Brick House in Waterwijk inAmsterdam, Netherlands, is a striking example of contemporary architecture in dialogue with its historic surroundings. Designed by Belgian firmDelmulle Delmulle Architecten, the three-storey residence sits on a compact, fully enclosed plot and responds to its spatial limitations with an 'inverted' layout — placing bedrooms below and living areas above. This vertical arrangement is echoed in the façade, which shifts from earthy terracotta tiles at the base to luminous glass bricks on the upper levels, drawing in natural light while preserving privacy.
A key innovation of the design is its double façade system, which enhances both energy efficiency and everyday comfort. By combining translucent glass bricks with full-height glazing, the structure optimizes daylight penetration without compromising thermal insulation or seclusion — an essential consideration in such a confined footprint. Subtle architectural gestures, like patterned brickwork and traditional window moldings, reference a nearby stepped-gable house dating to 1707, anchoring the bold intervention within Waterwijk's layered urban context. The approach reflects the studio's signature balance of expressive design and sensitive infill strategy.
Inside, the house continues its material restraint and structural clarity. The interior is crafted entirely from cross-laminated timber (CLT), with white-stained wood surfaces and natural terracotta flooring creating a warm, minimalist environment. This palette mirrors the exterior's visual rhythm, reinforcing continuity between interior and exterior. Above, a rooftop terrace offers an elevated retreat, reinforcing the home's quiet defiance of spatial constraint through vertical living and soft transparency.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hypebeast
3 days ago
- Hypebeast
Delmulle Delmulle Architecten's Glass Brick House Spotlights an 'Inverted' Double Façade
Summary The Glass Brick House in Waterwijk inAmsterdam, Netherlands, is a striking example of contemporary architecture in dialogue with its historic surroundings. Designed by Belgian firmDelmulle Delmulle Architecten, the three-storey residence sits on a compact, fully enclosed plot and responds to its spatial limitations with an 'inverted' layout — placing bedrooms below and living areas above. This vertical arrangement is echoed in the façade, which shifts from earthy terracotta tiles at the base to luminous glass bricks on the upper levels, drawing in natural light while preserving privacy. A key innovation of the design is its double façade system, which enhances both energy efficiency and everyday comfort. By combining translucent glass bricks with full-height glazing, the structure optimizes daylight penetration without compromising thermal insulation or seclusion — an essential consideration in such a confined footprint. Subtle architectural gestures, like patterned brickwork and traditional window moldings, reference a nearby stepped-gable house dating to 1707, anchoring the bold intervention within Waterwijk's layered urban context. The approach reflects the studio's signature balance of expressive design and sensitive infill strategy. Inside, the house continues its material restraint and structural clarity. The interior is crafted entirely from cross-laminated timber (CLT), with white-stained wood surfaces and natural terracotta flooring creating a warm, minimalist environment. This palette mirrors the exterior's visual rhythm, reinforcing continuity between interior and exterior. Above, a rooftop terrace offers an elevated retreat, reinforcing the home's quiet defiance of spatial constraint through vertical living and soft transparency.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- CBS News
Baltimore preservation group raises concerns after asphalt used to cover historic Fells Point road
A Baltimore preservation society is sharing concerns with city leaders after asphalt was used to cover historic railroad tracks in Fells Point. According to the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fells Point, the "inappropriate repairs" in the 1500 to 1800 blocks of Thames Street took place despite years of concerns and visits by advocates and transportation officials. The preservation group claims that the improper use of asphalt patches has further degraded the historic street's Belgian block surface. "Most notably, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has egregiously violated Article 6 of the Baltimore City Code, which clearly requires that all repairs be reviewed by the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) before they begin," the group said in a letter to city leaders. The group also said the project violates the Baltimore City Historic Preservation Design Guidelines, also called CHAP guidelines, which promote responsible preservation practices. Under the city's CHAP guidelines, builders are urged to "preserve historic street paving materials where they still exist, even if the paving materials have been covered by later paving." The guidelines also ask builders to "assess the potential impact upon the character of individual streets and alleys" when starting new construction projects or improvements. In their letter, advocates said the community has been requesting repairs to Thames Street for the past decade. Around 2018, the city provided an estimate for the restoration project. "Regrettably, instead of following these documented and agreed-upon directives, DOT proceeded unilaterally with a hot patch asphalt repair, bypassing essential consultations," advocates wrote. "This action undermines public trust and constitutes a serious breach of established protocols." In the letter to city leaders, the group demanded a timeline for when the damaged street can be repaired. WJZ has reached out to the DOT and the mayor's office for comment. Parts of Fells Point are known for their historic significance, and the preservation society, which was founded in 1967, aims to ensure that historic areas of Baltimore are renovated and maintained in keeping with city guidelines. The Fells Point waterfront served as one of the biggest seaports in the U.S. during the British War of 1812, and was a major supply channel for guns and flour during the Revolutionary War, according to the preservation group. Thames Street, where the paving project took place, features historic buildings, including the Merchant's House, which was built in the 1790s. Preservation advocates have worked to revive the area as a major commercial and residential corridor.
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Newsweek
American Moves to Europe, Mystified by Apartment Door System: 'No Sense'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video about an American's bafflement over the European door locking system, which he describes as both "inconvenient" and "dangerous," has gone viral on TikTok. Shared by Patrick Marquette (@ the clip has amassed more than 619,000 views since it was posted on May 14. Marquette moved to Brussels in January to live with his Belgian girlfriend after 4.5 years of long-distance dating. Text overlaid on the video reads: "European doors make no sense." He says in the clip: "The doors here are not only dangerous but also make zero sense." Unlike in the United States, where homes typically have a twist lock or a double bolt that can be operated without a key from the inside, Marquette adds that many Belgian doors require a key to both lock and unlock—whether from inside or outside. Marquette told Newsweek: "99.9 percent of the doors here and throughout Europe have this lock feature. I always felt it was strange, inconvenient and unsafe." International travel and cross-cultural exchanges continue to rise. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) says that around 300 million people traveled abroad in the first quarter of 2025—14 million more than the same period last year—underscoring the growing intersection of cultures and design expectations in an increasingly mobile world. Showcasing the door of his apartment, the American points out in the video that "there's no twist lock," noting that "in the U.S., normally you just have a double bolt, so you don't need a key at all." But that is not the case in Brussels. Marquette notes: "Here's why it's dangerous—let's say that I leave and I shut the door and I lock it [using the key]. My girlfriend or someone else is still in the apartment. They are now locked in … because if it's locked on the outside, then they're literally stuck if there's a fire, if there's an emergency." Marquette said: "If I lock it and her keys, for example, were left in her car, then she's essentially locked in. If something were to happen, a fire, emergency etc., it's really dangerous." "It just doesn't make any sense to me … there's no logic, and I don't know how that's not a safety hazard," Marquette says in the video. "If you live with more than one person, everyone needs to have their keys on them pretty much all the time in case anything goes awry." This isn't the only design choice that has surprised the American expat. Marquette also pointed to Belgium's preference for partial glass panels in showers instead of full enclosures or curtains. "Sometimes, there's no glass door at all," he said. "I think the look of it is nice, but the conventionality isn't always there … I do miss shower curtains a bit, I won't lie." A screenshot from a viral TikTok video showing Marquette baffled by the door lock system in Belgium. A screenshot from a viral TikTok video showing Marquette baffled by the door lock system in Belgium. @ on TikTok Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
