Located on the banks of the fast-flowing Geul River in the
picturesque region of South Limburg in the Netherlands, this holiday house is a
prime example of how existing old structures can be used to create completely new
buildings. Replacing many rundown structures in the location, the home was
erected in a restricted zone and only received permission for construction as
it did not include the building of an entirely new home.
The region in which the home stands is environmentally
sensitive and Zwarthout, the charred timber consultancy and Upfrnt, the architecture
studio, ensured that the small residence did not violate any environmental
laws.
To reduce the need for maintenance, charred wood cladding
was used in the project while the entire structure was raised on tree trunks to
prevent the chances of flooding inside the home when the water level in the river
rises.
The surfaces of the cedar cladding panels were burnt using Shou-Sugi-Ban
technique traditionally used in Japan which helped the wood create a sealed
surface that would also never need to be repaired and would be able to protect
itself from the element.
Since the river nearby is prone to frequent flooding, a
series of reinforced oak logs were used to raise the floor of the house up by
over a meter while a series of steps were added to lead inhabitants down to the
edge of the water. The woodland pathway behind the home is linked to a wood
bridge at the entrance of the house.
To minimize its carbon footprint, the home was given other sustainable
technologies like collection and filteration of waste water, heating and electricity
provided via solar energy, thick insulation and triple glazing.
