House in Vlijmen

Designed by JCA – Jan Couwenberg Architectuur in Vlijmen, The Netherlands, the brick house for an elderly couple features an hybrid space beetween inside and outside.

In the village of Vlijmen this house was designed for an elderly couple, who wanted to keep on living in this house as long as possible. Therefore, most of the program is located on ground level, on the first floor only a spare bed and bathroom are located. The program of the ground floor can be seen as a compact box. It is perforated with voids, giving rythm and scale to the house. In the voids a small patio, carport, wooden Western Red Cedar parts, and windows were made. By making this rhythm the house gets an extra layer between inside and outside.On top of the first ground box a small first floor was realized, featuring a pent roof. In a gentle slope the roof lifts up the entrence facade, facing a little forest and the morning sun. The morning sun penetrates the house in the open plan kitchen, where a void to the first floor also marks the heart of the house.

In the ground floor plan one clear line defines the sequence of different spaces. The main material used is a brown brick, with a strong horizontal seam. The wooden parts are placed in a vertical manner; in time they will get a grey finish being left untreated.