Sustainable show home with Pirrouet® bricks in Rotselaar (BE)
In Rotselaar, Dewaele Woningbouw built a future-proof show home with Pirrouet®, Vandersanden's carbon negative facing bricks. The architecture is contemporary and the techniques and materials used illustrate the sustainable vision of both construction partners.
Built with CO₂-negative facing bricks
The show home in Rotselaar was built with a soft beige brick from Vandersanden's Pirrouet® range. These bricks are CO₂-negative, which means that they store more CO₂ during the production process than they emit.
"This project demonstrates that CO₂-negative materials are not a utopian dream; they already exist today," says Dries Beyens of Vandersanden. "Widespread use of these materials is the next logical step in the application of sustainable building practices. Just as insulation and low-energy concepts were once innovative and are now standard, CO₂-negative materials could become a new baseline. The pace depends on smart policy choices, market demand and construction practices. In the long term, for example, we expect European regulations to focus strongly on reducing the carbon footprint of building materials."
Closed facade vs. large windows
Because the show home is located in a flood-prone area, it was built one metre above the natural terrain. Furthermore, a closed facade with different volumes on the street side was chosen, and large windows with a view of the green surroundings at the rear. Bronze-coloured aluminium profiles at the rear provide extra privacy. In combination with the soft beige bricks, they give the house an elegant look.
"Like Vandersanden, Dewaele attaches great importance to sustainability. The choice of CO₂-negative facing bricks from Vandersanden was therefore obvious," says Robby Noppe of Dewaele Woningbouw. "The Pirrouet® bricks were also just as easy to work with as classic bricks. We are convinced that this example will inspire others to use Pirrouet® for their own construction projects."
Building is generally something you only do once in your life. Reason enough to play the sustainability card.
Future-proof techniques
The clean-lined house is not only built with CO₂-negative facing bricks, it is also equipped with future-proof features, including a latest-generation air-source heat pump, underfloor heating and passive cooling, solar panels, heat recovery ventilation and a smart energy management system. The lighting, heating, ventilation, sun blinds and even sockets are controlled via a home automation system that can also be operated remotely.
"You generally only build once in your life," concludes Robby Noppe. "And a house lasts for several generations. Those are reasons enough to play the sustainability card."
Project info
- Show home in Rotselaar (BE)
- Year of construction - 2025
- House builder and contractor - Dewaele Woningbouw
- Architect: AR.2 Architecten
- Type - timber frame construction
- Used brick - Pirrouet® CO₂-negative bricks
They also built with Pirrouet®
Sustainable show home featuring Pirrouet® facing bricks in Rotselaar (BE)
‘You generally only build a house once in your lifetime,’ says Robby Noppe of Dewaele Woningbouw. ‘A house also stands for several generations. Those are reasons enough to prioritise sustainability. What’s more, the Pirrouet® bricks were just as easy to work with as traditional facing bricks.’
Groen Nobelhorst: building with Pirrouet® CO2-negative facing bricks
Discover the pioneering Groen Nobelhorst project in Almere, in the Netherlands, where 60 sustainable homes are being built. In these homes, sustainability, responsibility for people and the environment, and innovation come together. As pioneers, they have chosen to be the first in the Netherlands to build with our CO2-negative Pirrouet® facing brick.
Pirrouet® in action: A sustainable icon in Neeroeteren (BE)
The renovation of the Neeroeteren Cultural Centre is a textbook example of how sustainable building materials and collaboration can contribute to a greener future. This project is one of the first in Belgium to use Vandersanden’s innovative Pirrouet® facing bricks.
Questions? Get in touch
Customer Service
Advice on bricks, brick slips and pavers.
+44 (0)1954 268 075 [email protected] Ask your question