The living-room consists of a large, bright open space where
the different areas are defined and linked by the slanting roof
surfaces. The relationship between the two floors combines
privacy with a human scale, allowing family members to use the
house in their own way without causing disturbance to others.
The underground floor comprises the bedrooms, bathrooms
and sauna. The patio – hidden from view at ground-level by a
low wooden wall on the west façade – brings in both sunlight
and ventilation. Natural materials such as wood and stone have
been used on both the exterior and the interior of the house.
In the design, much attention was paid to making the house
environmentally sustainable, not only through generous use of
natural materials, but also by controlling energy usage. Good
insulation, triple-glazed windows, solar orientation, natural
shading on the south façade provided by an overhang, and
maintenance of a constant temperature in the underground
area all contribute to the sustainability of the building. The use
of LED lighting wherever possible, and the fireplace in the living
room, do the rest. The house fully lives up to Schiermonnikoog‘s
ambition of being a self-sufficient island.
www.dezwartehond.nl
Architects: De Zwarte Hond
Photographs: Michel Kievits