On the Steiger-island, IJburg, Amsterdam, private principles can develop their ideal house on rather undutch conditions: building is permitted without the agreement of the local government “beauty-committee”, a commission of architects that normally ensure a good match between a new building and its (existing) surroundings. The demands of the principal are ambiguous: the house should be both comfortable to live in and partly usable as a gallery / exhibition space. Therefore, there is asked for a big, open space with much daylight, a good flexibility and a modest, modern appearance. To guarantee an eventually future sell, the open space should be easily changeable in closed rooms. Finally, there is asked for a characteristic appearance.
spatial concept To realize the asked openness, first of all the program is subdivided in the classical categories of the “serving” and the “served” functions. The “serving” functions, like the bathroom, the storages and the stairs are moved towards one side of the plot. As the “serving” functions naturally have a closed character, on this side of the plot a strongly closed zone arises. On the other side of the plot, the demanded openness is created. The “served” functions like the living-rooms and the guest-room find their place here. The demanded “gallery” can be realized in this open zone too. The spatial zoning, finally, is resulting in a characteristic appearance.
Situation / orientation Right next to the waterside, the plot is part of a row of plots of which only the “building-envelope” on forehand is fixed by the local government. The closed zone of the house is positioned on the south-side of the plot. In this way, the closed parts of the façade protect the open interior on sunny days from being too heated by direct sunbeams. Looking in by neighbors from the John Napierstreet, that ends in front of a part of the plot, is prevented by the chosen position of the closed zone too.
Internal organization The closed zone contains the so called “hard-ware” of the house where – next to the serving functions – also technical facilities like installations and elements for structural stability are accommodated. Basically the arrangement of the functions in the open zone is totally free, though it is probable that the arrangement is related to elements in the closed zone: the open living room and the fixed fire-place, the open dining room and the fixed kitchen.
Flexibility The floors in the open zone can be “conditioned” in different ways. It is both possible to use the house as one big open space and – after a future adding of some walls – a series of closed rooms (max. 6 rooms).
Cost- and processmanagement At the start of het project an independent cost advisor concluded that it is possible to realize the proposed building structure within the available budget. During the process, the principal and the architect never made choices on materials and details without taking the budget in consideration. This finally resulted in a project that is realized within the budget. The clear spatial concept appeared to be a strategic base that left enough freedom to the specific demands of the principals during the process without the final result to become totally uncertain.
Interior The conceptual subdivision of the house in an open and a closed zone is also important in the further elaboration of the interior.
By considering the closed zone as a “piece of furniture” with an autonomous character both on the inside and the outside (facade), the openness of the open zone is strengthened. The surfaces of the closed block are finished with white stucco in which little pieces of glass. Though these pieces are hardly recordable by a photographer, they give both the interior and exterior of the house a special experience by unexpected glinsterings. They also ensure that the closed block is experienced as one single volume.
The spaces in the open parts of the house are finished with rather neutral materials that result in a neutral base to eventually expose art. The spaces within the closed block (walk-in closet, bathrooms, storages), however, have very outspoken finishings. These spaces vary from each other in materialization and atmosphere.