Outside-in
Design for a family house in a rural area close to Goes, Zeeland, The Netherlands
The design for this freestanding house is related to the characteristic Zeeuwse (southwestern province of the Netherlands) 'Longhouse' but is anything but a copy. The design is contemporary due to the specific manner of how the different materials are applied and the detailling has been worked out. The vertical wooden elements, which have been planed and pickled black, are a reference to the black painted facades of the traditional and characteristic Zeeuwse barns.
The contemporary application of reed on both the roof and facades has led to a gentle and natural transition between the green environment and modern interior. On the other hand the facades of the elongated volumes on the frontside have a more closed character and thereby offer more privacy to the inhabitants inside. The facades oriented to the garden are mostly transparant and strengthen the experience of living in a rural area.
As the exterior the interior has also been completely designed what has led to an insaparable connection between the inside and outside. The custom-made furniture has been mostly incorporated into architectural niches or has been placed as autonomous and/or iconic elements in the contiguous space.