In the 1950s, cellars were built in the Netherlands to store drinking water. With the arrival of purification installations, these clean water cellars became redundant. Also this basement next to a classic villa in Colmschate.
Architect Ellen Schild's plan convinced the municipality to transform the basement into a home. In order to get enough light, a patio has been realized at the rear of the basement. This provides the bedrooms and bathroom with sufficient daylight. A transparent pavilion has been placed on the concrete basement where the living areas are. The glass pavilion with a green roof blends into its surroundings: The roof seems to float and the rhythm of the wooden beams creates a beautiful connection with the trees.
The pavilion has been constructed as light as possible: a nice contrast with the heavy concrete of the basement. A slender steel construction with a wooden beam that is kept in view and extends from the inside to the outside. The sill of the fronts is incorporated into the concrete floor. The glass is the only separation between the living room and the terrace. When you sit in the living room, you feel like you are in the woods.
