This is a house for two young people in an old industrial harbor area in Deventer, the Netherlands. The harbor has lost its original function however many of the beautiful old warehouses have been renovated and now accommodate all kinds of cultural and social functions. Amid these historic buildings young couples have been given land to build their own homes.
The client has many dreams and wishes, but the amount of m2 they can build is limited. We propose a house which is sturdy and solid on the outside, yet open and bright on the inside. A house that utilizes every single cm2 of its open spaces as well as its solid ones, such as walls and floors.
The result is a house where there are clear-cut open spaces surrounded by an activated building mass containing built-in functions such as wardrobes, a toilet, stairs, seating areas and niches. Openings connecting these spaces horizontally and vertically give this compact house a sense of spaciousness.
