THE OFF-GRID HOUSE
The first step toward this dream home was taken on a summer day in the middle of the construction holiday. The clients called to realize their dream home in the polder and wanted me as their architect. The Noordoostpolder is known for its pioneers—those who, with great optimism, once ventured onto these clay grounds to establish their farms. My clients are no exception, being arable farmers at heart. Their home had to be placed in the midst of their land, allowing them to fully enjoy the beauty of nature and the vast, open landscape.
Never before have I had clients who offered so much freedom to bring my vision to life. The result: a house with outdoor terraces in all directions—because “the weather can get quite intense here.” And a klompenhok—a spacious entrance hall with ample storage for clogs and work clothes, which inevitably get dirty in the fields. Ever since, we’ve integrated this feature into every design under the name “mudroom.”
The 90x90 cm grid pattern extends seamlessly from the interior to the exterior, while diagonal and orthogonal sightlines run through all spaces. There was only one requirement from the building authority: when viewed from the front, the house had to show a gable with a gently sloping roof. And indeed, when standing directly in front, that is exactly what you see—but from no other angle! Three shed roofs create this profile from the front, yet they are never perceived the same way from other directions.
The clients had two additional requests:
Tip: Visit when the fields are in full bloom!
THE OFF-GRID HOUSE
The first step toward this dream home was taken on a summer day in the middle of the construction holiday. The clients called to realize their dream home in the polder and wanted me as their architect. The Noordoostpolder is known for its pioneers—those who, with great optimism, once ventured onto these clay grounds to establish their farms. My clients are no exception, being arable farmers at heart. Their home had to be placed in the midst of their land, allowing them to fully enjoy the beauty of nature and the vast, open landscape.
Never before have I had clients who offered so much freedom to bring my vision to life. The result: a house with outdoor terraces in all directions—because “the weather can get quite intense here.” And a klompenhok—a spacious entrance hall with ample storage for clogs and work clothes, which inevitably get dirty in the fields. Ever since, we’ve integrated this feature into every design under the name “mudroom.”
The 90x90 cm grid pattern extends seamlessly from the interior to the exterior, while diagonal and orthogonal sightlines run through all spaces. There was only one requirement from the building authority: when viewed from the front, the house had to show a gable with a gently sloping roof. And indeed, when standing directly in front, that is exactly what you see—but from no other angle! Three shed roofs create this profile from the front, yet they are never perceived the same way from other directions.
The clients had two additional requests:
Tip: Visit when the fields are in full bloom!