1847 – Construction of a single-family CLT house in Berseel

Rethinking the art of building: wood and light

For this detached house in Beersel, our practice oversaw the construction of a structure built entirely from CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber), a choice that is still relatively uncommon for a detached house. 

The design of the CLT structure, right down to the internal partitions, required particular attention: as these elements contribute to the structure’s bracing, they had to be included in the analysis of its overall behaviour. The sizing of the joints – particularly the brackets and connections between panels – was therefore the subject of a particularly detailed study. Their prefabrication also required a high degree of precision prior to the start of construction: every panel and every joint, right down to the positioning of the drill holes, was defined during the design phase to enable assembly without the need for on-site adjustments. Furthermore, the use of CLT means that account must be taken of the material’s deflections and their consequences for structural and architectural details. The 3D models developed by our engineer enabled us to coordinate the various elements and ensure a perfect alignment between the structural design, fabrication and installation.

The result is a house with open, airy spaces, where the precision of the structure expresses and brings to life the elegance of the forms and the architectural vision. The geometry of the house seems to soften when combined with a single material, present in the laminated timber elements of the façade right through to the partitions and ceilings, where the exposed timber brings a warmth that echoes the trees in the surrounding garden. From one space to the next, the perspectives extend, thanks also to the large bay windows which open the house outwards and let in the light. 

The continuity of spaces and materials thus creates a subtle dialogue with the surroundings, as if the wood were extending the essence of the landscape into the interior.