top of page

"we specialize in connecting and re-connecting people to their surroundings "

Material Diagram D3.jpg

DUTCH HOUSE I  |  nl

Conceived as a two-level permanent residence, this house has been designed as a modern reinterpretation of the traditional Dutch house, bringing together a series of motifs specific to local architecture in terms of design and materiality. Tucked away in a young woodland area at the village's outskirts and overlooking the polder, the project is looking to fit quietly into the landscape, but stand out through subtle design gestures such as the three double-height living room openings.

The spatial diagram is straight-forward: the ground level is organized in a sequence of three zones, each addressing a central activity or function: cook / eat (&entertain) / live. Moreover, each of these spaces gains additional spatial definition through a subtle change in levels: the kitchen and living areas are slightly sunken while the dining area is sitting higher, level with the outdoor veranda. All sleeping spaces are located on the first-floor level as well as an open office area, overlooking the double-height space. The auxiliary spaces (entrance, cloakroom, WC,  stairwell, chimney and wood storage) are organized along the horizontal axis of the building, ensuring all servicing and storage areas are separate and do not detract from the spatial quality of the main areas.

The façade's material palette is centred on bringing together two key local construction techniques: brickwork and woodwork - specifically potdeksel (or lap siding), a local technique of installing black-tinted, Douglas-fir planks so that the underlying plank protrudes slightly below the upper plank. In order to create a simple but strong visual effect, the brickwork dresses the ground floor area, but 'rises' / 'shoots vertically’ through the chimney element. The Douglas fir, darker in colour but lighter in materiality sits on top of the brickwork belt, but anchors to the ground through the design of the veranda.

If the exterior palette has been designed as a 'balancing act' between two strong materials, the interior palette is meant to unify through the use of natural Douglas fir across both the internal lining of the walls and bespoke furniture. This creates a clean backdrop for a carefully-selected collection of loose furniture and lighting features to stand out. The matte black accents tie into the black window framing used throughout the house, while reflective metallic details bring definition and echo as well as elevate the overall warmth of the interior.

Contact us to discuss your vision.

bottom of page