On a narrow plot nestled in Amsterdam’s historic Waterwijk district, Belgian architecture studio Delmulle Delmulle Architecten has created the Glass Brick House, a strikingly modern yet contextually sensitive residence that challenges the conventions of dense urban housing. Designed with an “inverted” layout and a sculptural double façade, the project showcases how architectural ingenuity can unlock light, comfort and sustainability even on the most constrained of sites.
A Double Façade That Embraces Light and History
The home’s three-storey elevation features a distinctive dual-skin façade that transitions from earthy terracotta tiles at street level to translucent glass bricks above. This gradual material shift not only opens the home to daylight but also ensures privacy in its tightly packed surroundings. The façade’s layered design, blending glass with full-height glazing, enhances thermal insulation, balances openness with seclusion, and invites soft light deep into the interiors.
Beyond performance, the façade also offers a historical nod. Patterned brickwork and traditional window details subtly echo a nearby stepped-gable house from 1707, embedding the building in Waterwijk’s architectural continuum. This approach exemplifies Delmulle Delmulle Architecten’s refined strategy of expressive infill — adding bold yet respectful gestures to urban fabrics.
Inverted Living, Vertical Clarity
In response to the site’s narrow footprint and fully enclosed context, the design cleverly inverts the traditional residential layout. Private bedrooms occupy the lower levels, while the living, dining, and kitchen areas rise above, capitalising on natural light and rooftop views. This vertical reorganisation results in a home that feels open and elevated despite its ground-level constraints.
Inside, the structure is rendered in white-stained cross-laminated timber (CLT), offering both visual clarity and environmental responsibility. Paired with terracotta tile flooring, the interiors project warmth through simplicity, echoing the exterior’s material language. The architectural rhythm — solid below, translucent above — continues throughout the home, fostering a sense of unity and vertical flow.
A Rooftop Retreat in the City
Crowning the residence is a rooftop terrace, creating a private, sky-facing escape. From here, the home’s core concept becomes fully legible: a light-filled refuge that rises from the earth with a sense of quiet composure. The Glass Brick House doesn’t just make the most of limited urban space — it redefines what’s possible within it, using design as a lens to explore intimacy, history, and luminosity.
Delmulle Delmulle’s project stands as a compelling case for urban reinvention through vertical living, blending heritage gestures with contemporary material expression in a structure that feels both grounded and aspirational.