Heylen Ceramics

Looking back on Dag van de Architectuur.
A day shaped by inspiring projects, meaningful conversations and a shared love for architecture. From open buildings to the very first Flanders Architecture Award, this edition showed how architecture brings communities closer to the spaces they live, work and grow in.

As a partner, Heylen Ceramics is proud to support an initiative that celebrates architectural vision, craftsmanship and the thoughtful use of materials.

A special mention goes to .architectuur & .brussels for Tonuso, Centrum Jeugdzorg, and to for DPL, Pleegzorg Vlaams-Brabant and Brussel. We are honoured that Heylen Ceramics was chosen for these beautiful projects. Extra congratulations to Tonuso, which won the Architecture Award in the Caring category.

Thank you to the Flemish Institute of Architecture and to everyone who made this edition such a valuable moment for the architecture community. Congratulations to all winners.

Dag van de Architectuur 2026
© Vlaams Architectuurinstituut
Images by Dieter Daniels (.daniels)

When a façade colour does not exist yet, we create it.

On the Gasthuisberg campus in Leuven, the new O&N5 and O&N6 buildings by Wiegerinck and LOW Architects bring unexpected softness to a large-scale biomedical campus.

This was not an off-the-shelf brick. Together with Heylen Ceramics, the architects developed a custom light-green, almost mint-coloured façade brick with subtle depth and a gentle shimmer, produced specifically for this project.

The result was a true first: a new edelengobe finish with refined colour variation and a soft glimmer. The green nuances help soften the scale of the buildings, while the chain bond brickwork adds a delicate vertical rhythm.

From a distance, the campus feels lighter and more open. Up close, the brick reveals its texture, detail and quiet complexity.

Brick: custom light-green edelengobe façade bricks by Heylen Ceramics
Format: 240x90x52 mm
Architects: &
Photographer:
Location: Gasthuisberg, Leuven

For , material choices are never an afterthought, they're part of the design process from day one.

From the very first sketches of this project in Dendermonde, Heylen Ceramics joined the conversation to help shape a façade that would soften the strict geometry of the architecture while adding rhythm and texture to the volume.

Together, architect and supplier went back to the source, visiting the artisanal brick factory Klinkers to compose the right blend for the project. A mix of Rock Fort Extra Wit and Lambermont Extra Wit, spread across different formats, became the foundation of a façade that feels both precise and natural.

A project built on dialogue, craftsmanship and a shared obsession for detail.

Architect: (Cliff Reid)
Brick combination: 80% Rock Fort Extra White + 20% Lambermont Extra White
Format: mix of WF, HF and WDF
Location: Dendermonde
Photographer:

If you're ever walking through the Meerstraat in Dendermonde, you'll come across a façade that isn't mirroring the traditional terraced house, but enters into dialogue with its surroundings. Together with Reid Senepart Architects, we combined different bricks in different formats, creating a subtle broken-stone effect full of rhythm, texture and depth.

A compact front keeps the streetscape light, while the shifted upper floor adds rhythm, air and movement to the volume.
That same thoughtful approach continues in the façade, every brick was drawn in advance, with a carefully defined layer rhythm shaped in part by the mathematical mind of the client. The result? Façade views in which every single brick was visible, with quantities counted through a spreadsheet to define the exact mix.

Together with Heylen Ceramics, the Reid Senepart architects selected a composition that softens the clean lines of the design: 80% Rock Fort Extra White and 20% Lambermont Extra White, spread across three formats: WF, HF and WDF. By deliberately combining different lengths and heights, the façade gains a lively texture that feels playful, natural and architecturally considered.

Brick combination: 80% Rock Fort Extra White + 20% Lambermont Extra White, in formats WF, HF and WDF
Architect:
Foto:
Location: Dendermonde

Belgium remains a brick country, but the future of our façades is becoming lighter.

Ceramic brick slips are rapidly gaining ground: they offer the look of brick, but with the technical freedom that architects, clients and contractors need today. Where traditional façades reach their limits, brick slips open up new possibilities.

Particularly in renovation, insulation and complex structures, they are increasingly proving to be the smart, forward-looking solution.

Want to learn more about using brick slips? Contact us via:
📞+32 3 239 99 99
📧 [email protected]

A calm, refined home in Schilde, designed by Frederik Dierckxsens, where architecture and landscape move in sync.

The design opens up towards a series of carefully framed outdoor spaces, creating a natural flow between inside and out while maintaining a strong sense of privacy.
For the façade, Chippermix was used to achieve a soft, mineral finish. This chipping technique, applied with a thin, specialized mortar, adds depth and a subtle texture that shifts beautifully with the light.

A material choice that quietly brings everything together.

Brick: Chippermix
Architect:
Foto:
Location: Schilde

Thinking beyond the exterior is where it gets interesting. In this home in Duinbergen, brick materials take the lead. A modern and timeless home where colour, light and textures create a sense of balance. Brick slips move indoors to add depth and character and create a unique interior you'll enjoy every day.

Brick slips kitchen: Frêne Bi-Cuisson
Brick slips floor: Crema Tivoli XLDF
Format: 330x50x12 (kitchen), 365x14x52 mm (floor)
Architect:
Location: Duinbergen, Knokke

Planning on renovating or building? Let bricks set the tone for your project. During a one-on-one session at our Heylen Ceramics showroom, you’ll get expert support choosing the right materials, colours and finishes, plus help combining everything into one coherent look.

Bring your moodboard, photos or plans, and we’ll translate your ideas into ceramic choices that truly fit your project.

Book your appointment for our showroom in Antwerp.
📞+32 3 239 99 99
📧 [email protected]

A home that feels minimal yet inviting. The light-toned bricks create a calm, refined façade, while the subtle play of textures adds depth and character.

Looking to bring the same balance into your project?
Discover our full collection of façade bricks on our website.

Brick: Capri
Format: 240x90x40
Architect:
Visual:
Location: Bonheiden