With a footprint of only 55 m2 this house by Chris Collaris and i29 interior architects still has a luxurious feel of space, and all around panoramas to the surrounding nature. This compact home is built for a family of four, including a living room, a kitchen/dining room, a patio, three bedrooms, one bathroom and two toilets. The layout is developed from the inside-out, the smart arrangement of functions makes use of every cm2.
Situated on a elongated island plot close to the lake in Vinkeveen, The Netherlands, the positioning of the building volume is related to the views of the surrounding water and the orientation of the sun. By dividing the volume into four parts, the panoramic views and the invading sunlight become very specific. On the outside the diversity in size and the interconnected positioning create a sculptural image, looking different from every angle. In order to intensify this sculptural quality, all facades have a minimal design with invisible roof endings and window frames detailed behind the wood facade. All volumes have big windows or sliding doors which can be opened completely to fully merge the inside with the outside. On the inside, the dimensions and ceiling heights of the different volumes clearly articulate the separate areas and functions in the house. Long sight lines crossing the outside patio provide a visual connection. By opening up the large sliding doors of the patio the volumes of the kitchen and living are physically connected.
Custom furniture and integrated cabinets accentuate the graphical quality on the inside. The architects made use of simple materials like natural oak wooden panels or stained black to combine with the rough pinewood facade and the continuing polished concrete floor.
They strived for a design strategy in which the architecture and the interior come together in a model combination. Each volume has its own program. By linking interior components to the architecture and vice versa, the result is a high quality project not dependent on expensive materials or technical show. In every detail they aimed for the ultimate space efficient solution. Every aspect of the design was approached to produce a pure and unified experience, to leave a strong impression. Making quality projects is, in the architects’ opinion, not always ‘the bigger the better’. With simple, yet smart interventions, this project is of the highest standard and at the same time energy efficient, eco-friendly, and built with a small footprint. In this sense it’s a model example of a tiny house; smart, comfortable, but with no concessions to quality in both the interior and architectural design.
Design and info © Chris Collaris and i29 interior architects
Images © Ewout Huibers
