This site is located in an agricultural area. In terms of volume, scale and shape, the design is predicated on an archetypical farmhouse typology, resulting in optimum contemporary integration. The existing farmhouse was converted to a residential dwelling. The two ancillary buildings were replaced and used as a pool house and as a storage area for garden tools.
Architecture
The design is based on the idea of a farmstead, because the old buildings were configured as a square yard. This kind of farmstead often has walls around it and is devoid of any relationship with its surroundings. The idea of make everything accessible via the yard was retained. The raised plateau forms a linking element between the three buildings. Partly thanks to the U-shape positioning of the buildings and the use of the same materials, the plateau resembles a farmstead/courtyard. The three buildings come to the fore as a robustly defined entity, thus strengthening the contrast between the buildings and the landscape.
All physical relationships with the surrounding landscape have been made possible only via the homestead. The garden has been created as a `sunken lawn' in the plateau. This approach ensured that as a `spot' the plateau lends scale to the buildings in the open landscape. On the one hand there is the landscape and on the other the artefact of the buildings. Yet there is still integration and a relationship with the landscape thanks to the choice of materials: bricks, rough reddish-brown crafted brickwork and tiles with a weathered look. Large wooden windows in Afromosia, well-proportioned and focused smartly towards the surroundings, give the buildings a contemporary nature. The buildings have a warm look and feel thanks to the choice of materials.
Steel in combination with traditional brickwork created a possibility to retain the openness of the key volumes (the living spaces and master bedroom) all the way up to the ridge. Once inside the home you are on the main circulation axis, i.e. one long corridor that connects the top end of the living space to the master bedroom at the other end. Pivoting doors make it possible to close off the areas at the ends or to leave them open. The living space is on the southern side and connects with the patio and the pool house. The master bedroom is on the northern side.
Along the rear wall of the home, running parallel to the first circulation corridor, there is a secondary circulation area for the more technical functions (such ad a storeroom and stairs). In other words, the areas are situated between the two circulation axes. There are two bedrooms on the upper floor. In analogy with the traditional farmsteads in the surrounding landscape, poplars will be planted at a sensible distance all around the built-up site. They form part of the architectural aspects of the square yard and refer to the traditional rows of tress to be planted to protect the homestead. Here the poplars will shield the homestead and its residents from strong winds. The dividing line between the homestead and the fields to the rear will be formed by a saut-de-loup. A sunken wall made of gabions and sandstone rocks form the wall of a dry ditch, an optical illusion that allows a borderless garden to blend into the surrounding landscape. This measure prevents livestock from escaping and provides a solution to the waterlogging that is specific to the countryside where the homestead is located. The fields around the yard will be sown in a natural way with a flowery mix, with the intention of creating in due course a species-rich, natural field of flowers.
Engineering
A concept was worked out for installing a heat storage tank both in the home and in the pool house. The two heat storage tanks are interconnected below ground, with generation taking place by means of a cascade system of a micro combined heat and power plant with stirling motors to produce heat and electricity. During sunny periods the solar panels will be use instead of the micro CHP plant to heat the storage tanks. This enables achievement of an E level of 22. A mechanical system was used for ventilation, based on the D system. A domotics system forms part of the integrated and user-friendly control of the lighting and heating system.
Interior design
The physical relationship with the surrounding landscape has been intensified by laying plank floors (made of Afromosia identical to the wooden windows) in all zones, in particular the circulation zones that connect directly with the outer walls. The same kind of ceramic tiles were used in the core zone with the kitchen and the utility room, bathroom and toilets.
Where the fitted ceiling allowed, it was decided to use discrete inbuilt lighting fixtures. Where this was not possible, the lighting was provided by means of mounted fixtures, but symbolically subordinate to the architecture. LED lighting appliances were chosen instead of energy-wasting halogen spots.
