Architect from Reitsema & Partners develops, designs and builds his own dream home
When Dennis Weerink, project architect at Reitsema & Partners, used to visit his parents in law in Geesteren, a disused agricultural shed on their site caught his eye. When he tentatively put forward the idea that he might be able to make something beautiful out of it, the reaction was: "If you can do something with it...". And he could do a lot with it: the idea for his own barn house Het KleineKrikhaar was born.
Regulations of the province of Overijssel gave Weerink the opportunity to demolish the old barn and rebuild something beautiful to take its place. The project architect of Reitsema & Partners architects had been dreaming of developing his own sustainable house for a while, and now this chance presented itself. In collaboration with the firm, the Buildings Aesthetics Committee and the municipality, Weerink explored the possibilities and his idea began to take shape. It became an archetypal barn shape: the elongated barn almost looks like a piece from a child's farm set, perched gently on a felt green landscape.
‘Het KleineKrikhaar’ is the name given to the barn house, after the old farmhouse that used to be there and that can still be found on old maps. In this way, Reitsema & Partners architects pay homage to the historical landscape from which the barn design originated and into which it has seamlessly been incorporated.
Smart positioning for great views
When you walk down the path to the house, in the distance through the bend you see a large tree. This tree was used as an anchor point for a three-meter-high raised concrete plinth. The house is positioned perpendicular to this line of sight and one and a half meters above ground level, giving it a beautiful outlook over the Twente landscape.
The well-planned route through the house gives a different view of the surroundings and the interior each time: sometimes you walk past the landscape, sometimes towards or away from it, and sometimes it forms the background for the design. The dining table is oriented to the west, while the kitchen island offers a southern and northern view. From the cosy nest of the lowered seating area you look out onto the northern landscape and you can even admire the sky through the large skylight. But Weerink's favourite place in the house is the glass patio, where he and his family like to sit and enjoy the surroundings and beautiful skies.
Nods to the building's previous history
The property has the proportions of an agricultural shed and an open floor plan. Various sections have been used to define the spaces. The dining table, for example, is placed on the floating end wall, and a freestanding cupboard wall separates the kitchen from the recessed living room. Through the four and a half meter high sliding door you can walk from the living room onto the indoor terrace. A solid block with two bedrooms, bathroom and utility rooms also forms a section, the entrances of the various rooms consisting of wooden alcoves in which the doors are completely concealed.
The main bedroom is located under the annex, with the full glass façade offering a view of the patio with a vertical plant wall. The en-suite bathroom consists of a spacious double shower room, in which floor, wall and ceiling are covered with black hexagon tiles. The free-hanging washbasin is positioned on a free-standing mirror wall.
In line with the barn design, wooden slats are used as an accent in the alcoves (floors, ceiling and walls) and for the kitchen floor on the plinth. A non-standard construction method of a steel truss construction was chosen, which is almost completely invisible. The steel columns (30x200) are designed to be as minimal as possible. The roof and walls consist of insulated (RC6) sandwich panels, which ensure maximum insulation and waterproofing. The wooden facade cladding is mounted on this. In addition to making it watertight, this construction method enabled a quick setup of the frame of the house.
Sustainable features paired with privacy
Weerink's new home is not only pleasing to the eye, but is also built sustainably. The barn house is equipped with a high-quality insulation shell, air heat pump, heat recovery, LED lighting, economical built-in appliances and an adaptive installation concept. Reitsema & Partners architects value a strong relationship between the building and the surrounding landscape. They strive for the ideal: maximum landscape experience and privacy.
Developing a modern barn home offers learning experience
Weerink says that the development, design and construction of his barn house has made him a better architect. By discussing the design at an early stage with suppliers and manufacturers, it was possible to design minimalistic details that work in practical terms. In addition, it was nice to be able to throw ideas back and forth with colleagues from the firm and use them as a sounding board. Weerink has taken the knowledge and experience that he has gained in the development of his dream house forward to subsequent projects. As an added bonus he had a lot of fun during the construction, because he worked together with a construction team consisting of his father, father-in-law and two uncles, who are also extremely proud of the end result.
