Barn House in the middle of the garden
“As the basis of the Schuurwoning (Barn House) we decided to use ‘the saddle roof’. Where the roof nods (the ridge) we divided the house into two halves. One half is ’empty space’ up to the ridge. The other half is a mass to the ridge. This volume includes the amenities, bedrooms and the kitchen.
At the rear end of the plot there is beautiful view of a forest. And also the front garden happens to be precisely facing the south. Reason why the back garden lies in the shadow of the house. That’s why we decided to build the (Schuurwoning) Barn House in the middle of the garden. And also to make the most of the view at the rear of the house and to approach the front garden as ‘a backyard-with-sun’. That’s the reason why you sort of live in the middle of your garden.
To the two elements, the saddle roof and the mass on which the roof rests, a third element was added: a mass that curls, from the garden inwards. The ‘curl’ includes all amenities: kitchen cabinets, laundry room, toilet, meter cupboard, wardrobe, bicycle storage. The curl ends in a garden fence that separates the sun terrace (the front garden) from the entrance with the parking lot.”
Photos: René de Wit