House S / Grosfeld van der Velde Architecten

© Michel Kievits

Architects: Grosfeld van der Velde Architecten
Location: Breda,
Client: Private
Project Year: 2006-2008
Photographs: Michel Kievits, Roel van der Laar, Raphael Drent

The house is located on the edge of the Asterdplas in Breda’s Haagse Beemden district. The living area is raised above the surrounding land, so that the view on the natural environment is optimal. Further solidifying the home’s connection to nature, large floor-to-ceiling windows frame the view, while giving the house a light and transparent character.

site plan
© Raphael Drent

Since the residents are home workers, employees and customers are also regaled at the house. Therefore private and business rooms are separated in an ingenious way, where they do touch but never cross.

© Michel Kievits

The working space is partly situated below grade, fit with a horizontal orientated window. Providing a beautiful view on the environment and allowing for a bright, natural lit lower level.

Cite: "House S / Grosfeld van der Velde Architecten" 17 Jan 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 20 May 2013. <http://www.archdaily.com/46173>

18 comments

  1. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    There quite a bit I find to like in this project. In particular the siting is wonderful; presupposing that the viewer appreciates the “machine in the garden” aesthetic. Certainly the siting is a reaction to the site rather than an attempt to blend into this outstanding natural beauty.

    The main floor glazing takes great advantage of the panorama. I do find myself wishing that the reinforced mitered corner glass in the dining room were really a glass miter. It is 2010 and the technology to perfectly miter glass has been around for more than 60 years. This would have been just that bump up to dematerializing the corner.

    Also, I really like how this how is straightforwardly planned as a live-work environment. The spatial organization looks very accomplished (although the lower level isn’t really shown).

    Likewise, I like the presence of a scullery off of the display kitchen. The separation of social and clean-up space is very thoughtful. Too, the cloakroom arrangement speaks to someone who actually entertains.

    I find myself less convinced about the bi-level Master suite. Stumbling down those stairs in the middle of the night seems inevitable.

    For all of the things I do like about this project there are some that I dislike. Those hectares of white linoleum seem cliched to me, as do many of the finishes. Some of the yuppy detailing makes me feel like I am looking at a B&B Italia brochure. Then I have to wonder when I see things like speaker cable hanging off of the ceiling in the living room. Where did the planning go? The worst element seems to be the lighting. I just cannot understand why lighting technology isn’t a first priority in contemporary projects. Here it looks like all opportunities for energy efficient, elegant, and even lighting solutions were ignored.

    No matter what the shortcomings, however, it must be wonderful to sit there and look at that quintessentially Dutch view.

    Terry Glenn Phipps
    http://www.facebook.com/tgpart

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  8. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    I think it’s a very beautiful house/office in a beautiful setting. I’m just surprised with the choice to create an (artificial) dune landscape around the house. Although it gives a nice atmosphere to the outside spaces, i think it’s not very typical for this area, and makes me think the house should be placed somewhere else.

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  14. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Overall very accomplished and impressive…I just have a problem with the way the 2 seperate entrances were handled – the way the door swing toward the offices obstruct the main home entrance looks awkward and not well thought-through.

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