This way the design fits well into the historical landscape and the surroundings. The semi-transparent shell of lamellae shields the inner spaces. The choice of building materials and the engineering of the shell are precise and rural simultaneously: wooden panels and galvanized steel, both unfinished and in sight.

Design

When architect Aat Vos of Aequo Architecturals received the commission to design the house on the outskirts of Eelde, he definitely didn't want to make a conservative design. To his conviction a new house should look like a new house. He found the solution in a design of which the outside fits self-evidently in the landscape, scattered with old farms. The shape of his design equals the original farmhouses: functional, straight on, with one level and a roof, and at right angles to the road. The poor farmers never paid much attention to the outside: grassland with a house is all it takes for agriculture. That is the reason that within this design all the usual extensions (carport, porch, terrace) are missing.  

See-through blouse

It is hard to imagine that the harsh main shape of the design can result in a modern, comfortable house. Nowadays transition spaces between inside and outside are basic preconditions for such a modern house. This gave Architect Vos the idea to bring the outside spaces within the main shape of the house, resulting in a more or less open and transparent shell. Behind this shell the 'real' constructional facade is placed, providing heat-insulation and wind/water-proofing--actually a house within a barn.

The windows of the ‘inside' house can be opened and closed independently of the outer shell. A galvanized steel structure and wooden lamellae form the outer shell. This way the farmhouse is reminiscent of the chicken-barn it replaced. Says Vos, "The barn was made up of closed, pot-lid boards. To show people are living here now, I actually opened up those boards."

The wooden lamellae are fit in large shutters that can be opened by the residents. This way they can arrange the view, permit or block sunlight, while fencing in outer spaces or by connecting inner and outer spaces. The architect indicates a positive side-effect: the great variance of the positions of the shutters reminds one of a farm in full operation.

A steel structure outer shell is built around the inside house, which is a concrete, load bearing structure. The outer skin of lamellae is extended to the roof. The lamellae eliminate direct sight on the roof-windows and solar collectors. In any way the effect is tantalizing: comparable to a see-through blouse one only gets a hazy notion of the content.

More information

This project was nominated for the competion 'Building of the year 2006' of the Dutch Society of Architects. (BNA). See http://www.bnagebouwvanhetjaar.nl/  and http://www.aequo.nl/.