At the blueberry plantation Blankwater in Swalmen, Jasper Smits Architects designed the most recent addition: Forest House Blankwater. It is a group accommodation with 15 spacious sleeping quarters. The wooden forest house is part of a 62-hectare estate. The estate includes a forest, grassland, a blueberry plantation, and a lunch café: Plantage Blankwater.
The unique location offers a wonderful experience of the plantation and wooded surroundings. The black Forest House, measuring 730 m², has modestly nestled itself into a corner at the edge of the forest. To reach the building, visitors walk from the parking area through the forest. Initially, the building completely blocks the view of the plantation. Once inside, a wide vista opens up across the estate and the ridges where the blueberry plants grow.
The building consists of two volumes. Together, they form a structure that references the barns in the surrounding area, which often have annexes. The two volumes, each with its own construction principle, also divide the program of the group accommodation into two parts. The communal space is located in one volume, facing the blueberry plantation, while the other volume contains the sleeping quarters. The ground floor rooms face the forest, while those on the first floor are oriented toward the sky and the plantation. Each room thus has its own unique connection to the beautiful natural surroundings. The corridors are understated, with daylight and characteristic lighting providing intuitive guidance to the various spaces within the building.
The communal space is designed to be a pleasant place for both large and small groups. The roof rests on laminated beams supported by double columns. These columns are placed almost two meters from the facade, making the large hall feel more intimate. The sloping wooden roof provides both a sense of intimacy and spaciousness.
RAUMKULTUR, as a collective of designers/makers, was responsible for the interior design and the delivery of the (custom) furnishings. In the communal area, functional custom pieces such as the kitchen, cabinets, and high tables were designed in the studio and produced in their own workshop. The wall lamps, inspired by plants, were created as artistic custom pieces by one of the RAUMKULTUR designers/makers.
In the sleepingrooms and bathrooms, the line of custom furniture continues in the headboards with movable nightstands, the writing/luggage tables, and the multifunctional vanity shelves with integrated lighting and towel hooks in the bathrooms. The clear, purposeful designs are a beautiful complement to the simplicity of the building.
The forest house was built on a minimal budget (€ 950.000). Jasper Smits Architects made smart choices to achieve this. Through careful selection of materials, floor construction, installations, and reducing the number of connections, a very modest yet elegant wooden building has been realized. The building’s structure was fully prefabricated in wood. The black wooden facade blends beautifully into the natural surroundings. The steel roof has no gutters, allowing rainwater to flow directly into the environment. The large windows allow the building to transform throughout the day and in every season.
