Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro No more cement, no more waste: building a house in a sustainable and fast way is possible and this system inspired by Lego bricks proves it
©Gablok
If you spent hours building with LEGO bricks as a kid, you might be thrilled to know you can do the same as an adult — only this time, it’s your future home. And no, this isn’t a joke. In Belgium, the company Gablok has developed a modular building system made of wooden blocks that fit together just like LEGO, but with a dramatically lower environmental impact than traditional construction.
Goodbye cement and bulldozers
The concept is as simple as it is brilliant: lightweight, insulating, and durable blocks that snap together without any mortar, concrete, or special skills. There’s no need for construction crews or heavy machinery. All you need is a ladder, a screwdriver, and the willingness to build.
The idea was born in 2018, thanks to Gabriel Lakatos, a construction veteran with over 25 years of experience in traditional building. Tired of the noise, dust, and environmental toll of conventional materials, he patented a modular system that’s cleaner, lighter, and more accessible.
With just eight base blocks and a few connecting pieces, it’s possible to build the load-bearing walls of an entire house in just seven days, as proven by actual projects completed in Belgium. It’s a real alternative to brick-and-mortar construction, slashing both build time and the need for carbon-intensive materials like cement and steel.
The Gablok system is made from OSB wood (sourced sustainably) and graphite-enhanced expanded polystyrene (EPS) — two materials that provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. The result? A house that uses significantly less energy and can cut your utility bills by up to 90%.
How it works
The process is surprisingly straightforward. Once the architect’s drawings are ready, the Gablok team adapts the design to fit their blocks and creates a 3D model so clients can see and approve the final result before any building begins.
About four weeks later, the full self-build kit arrives: it includes all the blocks, assembly plans, and detailed instructions. The only thing not included? The foundation and roof covering. Everything else — including floors and beams — is delivered in three stages, to reduce clutter and make site management easier.
Each block weighs under 20 pounds, meaning they’re easy and safe to handle — no heavy lifting, no unnecessary risks. Even people with zero construction experience can take part.
But Gablok’s true strength lies in its flexibility: the system works for any kind of structure — from single-family homes and garages to guest houses or small studios. Everything is customizable and compatible with all types of doors, windows, electrical systems, and roof types.
Even better, the approach fits perfectly with off-site prefabrication: all parts are produced in controlled environments and assembled on-site, reducing waste, noise, transport emissions, and fine dust particles.
