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Architects: Earthbound architecture, Namelok
- Area: 280 m²
- Year: 2024
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Photographs:MWA Hart Nibbrig
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Lead Architects: Maartje Lammers, Wiegert Ambagts
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Text description provided by the architects. Merging with the green surroundings of a century-old estate, the Orchard House unveils its boldly crafted roof. While its sturdy and authentic presence does not lie, the Orchard House presents a rich palette of thoughtfully arranged materials, informed by markers of its environment. Orchard walls, timber framework, and roof - Like the brickwork of an existing wall of the vegetable garden, adjacent to the house, the inner house walls were laid out of the same re-claimed Hilversums-format brick. This visually structuring element encapsulates the first layer of the design effort.
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Contrary to the garden where pears flourish, they do not thrive alongside these walls; instead, the house's main functions seamlessly integrate into this partitioning element. A structural solid oak timber framework surrounds the masonry walls. The singular expression of the front and back elevations generates a variable roof shape. It plays a strong and defining role in the inside space and overall aspect of the house, extending on both sides of the two gardens. A private reading room on the side of the orchard, and an open dining area offer views of the vegetable garden.
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Reinvented local shapes - Starting as a traditional mansard roof, referencing the surrounding building shapes, the roof later unfolds, transposing into an asymmetrical pitched roof edge. While firmly curving on one side, the pavilion-like back shape disappears into the vastness of the estate. The covering exemplifies a design attitude towards reinterpretation of traditional craft and building techniques. Grey-green natural slates are clad and arranged in a maasdekking pattern. With the intent of building a passive home, solar panels are uniquely integrated to match the slates' color and coverage proportions.
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Natural crafts - Beyond the significant use of bio-based materials in the project, a rich material palette contributes to defining the essence of the house. While hempcrete, a bio composite, is used to fill out the primary structure and provides excellent insulation, loam stucco interior finishings create a warm and inviting atmosphere. As the fire crackles in the living room on a winter day, the faded blue custom-made tiles start glowing. They are part of a bigger material ecosystem, with inner imprints referencing the orchard and local stories. The house’s palette presents diverse wood essences, rough and smooth textures, soft and polished, mineral, and warm tones.
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Lime plaster masonry and stone sub-sills in the front house facade contrast with the garden-like roughly sawed cedar cladding in the back. Through the interior spaces, one observes the ship-like detailed interior with mahogany glossy panels defining lower walls to roof-connections and ceilings. These reflective wood surfaces meet with the oak custom-made interior elements. Smooth surfaces are made of custom terrazzo floor tiles and sinks, while bathroom walls are clad with white glazed Friese Witjes, frequently used in Dutch traditional interiors.
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