architectum

State of the art solution

Many think it can’t be done, but at the Koekuit Castle estate in Belgium, an intrepid roofer found a way to elegantly generate electricity on a historic roof.

Historical buildings pose a unique challenge: their renovations often require owners to compromise on the quality of materials to preserve the original appearance. But in the case of this Belgian estate, roofer Tom Stockman managed to integrate a solar solution powerful enough for the family’s annual energy needs while maintaining the building’s original look.

A cellar above the ground

A winemaker from one of Austria’s best-loved wine regions has realized her lifelong dream of an above ground wine cellar without risking the quality of her product.

When you think of a wine cellar, you would normally picture a cool, dark underground structure. But winemaker Dorli Muhr and her architectural partners, Sabine and Stefan Laub, were able to achieve the same thermal stability above ground with the help of thoughtfully selected Porotherm blocks. This method requires no additional heating or cooling systems to maintain a consistent indoor temperature of 22 to 26°C all year round.

A house like a hug

The 2025 Housing Fair in Oulu, Finland, challenged architects to create modern neighbourhoods. The Hjemma House is an exceptional example on a small scale.

Designed to offer Danish-inspired coziness and warmth, while meeting the brief of sustainability and nature-integrated living, the all-brick Hjemma House by PAVE Architects is a small but mighty example of how families can live well in just 60m². And now that the fair is over, its resident family can enjoy it for many years to come.

Poetry of permanence

This modern family house in Cittadella, Italy, is guarded by two impressive brick walls, creating an avant-garde appearance while paying homage to the city’s heritage.

Casa P+E+3 is a family residence designed by Caprioglio Architects. By highlighting brick inside and out, the design echoes the medieval fortifications that encircle the city of Cittadella while remaining extremely contemporary. With views of the medieval ramparts and Porta Bassano, the award-winning villa is constantly in conversation with its historic setting.

The power of simplicity

By choosing brick, Shay Cleary Architects gave The Residences at Sandford Lodge a timeless surface that met not only aesthetic, but also environmental and economic targets.

“From the start, we had made the decision to work with brick – both for durability reasons and architectural intent. The construction method is straight-forward and cost-effective: with the brick we could build traditional load-bearing cavity walls with mineral wool insulation. It’s essentially the way one would build a house; it’s not a tower building where you make a steel frame or a concrete frame,” explains Shay Cleary in our interview.

Read the full interview

Your selection

Architecture with purpose

State of the art solution

Many think it can’t be done, but at the Koekuit Castle estate in Belgium, an intrepid roofer found a way to elegantly generate electricity on a historic roof.

A cellar above the ground

A winemaker from one of Austria’s best-loved wine regions has realized her lifelong dream of an above ground wine cellar without risking the quality of her product.

A house like a hug

The 2025 Housing Fair in Oulu, Finland, challenged architects to create modern neighbourhoods. The Hjemma House is an exceptional example on a small scale.

Poetry of permanence

This modern family house in Cittadella, Italy, is guarded by two impressive brick walls, creating an avant-garde appearance while paying homage to the city’s heritage.

The power of simplicity

By choosing brick, Shay Cleary Architects gave The Residences at Sandford Lodge a timeless surface that met not only aesthetic, but also environmental and economic targets.

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