House Ijburg
The house is located on a very small plot in IJburg; a recently developed suburb of the city of Amsterdam. The house is designed as a monolythical sculptural mass, expressed by contrasting introverted private spaces (that form the mass) with open collective spaces that seem to have been 'carved out' from the solid volume as a continous transparent void, visually and physically connecting them to the street, the garden and roof terrace. This strategy seems to give the house a monumental and sculptural quality that articulates a sense of stability, simplicity and permanence.
Three bedrooms, a small bathroom, WC and a 'multipurpose hall' are situated on the groundfloor whereas the first floor remains completely open for living, cooking and eating, flooded with daylight. The multipurpose hall functions as an enteryzone, connecting the small garden in front with the garden in the back of the house. This space accomodates an artist atelier, workdesk, and space for children to play. Storage, service and mounthspaces are invisibly integrated in thick walls to articulate a sense of mass while keeping the livingspaces as open and flexible as possible.
The facade contains specific brick detailing inspired by techniques from the famous Amsterdamse school style from the 1920's, which had become redundant in the 2nd half of the 20th century.
By intensive cooperation with brick and mortar suppliers, masonry consultants and brick layers, the architect managed to introduce these texture effects in contemporary building methods.
The ornamental masonry is not only a decorative enhancement of the sculptural character of the design, but also functions as an underlayement for different sorts of climbingplants to grow up the facade, giving birth to the idea of a vertical garden, which was enhanced by integrating plantbarges on several levels in the facade. Kiwi's, grapes, apples and roses will over time overgrow the house and create a 'natural curtain' around the living spaces and terraces, providing shading and privacy. Altough the living area is situated on the first floor, the inhabitants will herby experience their garden as an integral part of their livingspace, uniting nature and culture in a unique way.
The ecological character of the house, was reinforced by making use of passive solar-energy, a heating earth-pump, solarcells on the top roof and a balanced mechanical ventilationsystem throughout the building. Comfort and experience are herby combined with the benefits of energy-saving. Because of this, the house received a special subsidy given to sustainable buildings.
