When living in the heart of the typical landscape of Drenthe, with its unobstructed views and surrounding forest edges, all you need is shelter and maximum connection with the landscape. House H, built entirely out of wood, blends seamlessly with the beautiful landscape through its modest and reserved architecture. 

The programme for House H is organized in two elongated volumes, with the primary residential functions (living room, kitchen, bedrooms) accommodated in the main building and secondary functions (office space, guestrooms) housed in the secondary 
structure. Both volumes are identical in dimension and are initially positioned in sequence: the main building addressing the open landscape, and the secondary building set back in the second order near the site entrance.  

By horizontally offsetting the volumes relative to each other, a hierarchy is established with the programme clearly and naturally structured across the site. Where the two volumes overlap, a sheltered and more intimate outdoor space is formed, serving 
as a shared threshold and point to access both buildings.

The positioning of the various functions in relation to one another and within the context of the landscape is key in shaping a distinctive living experience. The residential programme is organized to provide maximum privacy and open views. As a result of the horizontal shift of the two building volumes, the office, meeting room and bed-and-breakfast accommodation in the secondary building are brought into direct relationship with the surrounding landscape. 

A walk through the house feels like a walk through the landscape, with living areas carefully positioned in interaction to their surroundings. This is further reinforced by the interplay between moments of maximum openness and more introverted 
architectural conditions, allowing privacy, enclosure, views, daylight, and visual permeability to be naturally integrated into the design.

The house is constructed entirely out of wood. The interior, with its natural wood finish creates a warm, pleasant atmosphere and a comfortable living space and contrasts with the black wood of the exterior. The gently sloping black zinc roofs with 
fine seams and a thin eaves rise from the exterior to the interior, naturally defining the entrance space between the building volumes. While the building’s height diminishes to its surroundings, creating a modest presence.  

Reserved in expression and subservient to the overwhelming landscape, House H is situated on a newly established estate with uninterrupted views across the characteristic countryside of the Dutch province of Drenthe. The design 
prioritizes the preservation and reinforcement of the existing landscape structure, thereby ensuring a positive contribution to the natural environment. 
The house is designed in harmony with its residents and realized under private supervision in collaboration with local partners. This approach was driven by the ambition to create a sustainable dwelling that emphasize a strong relationship with the landscape. 

From the starting point, a modest, abstract home was designed with an interior and exterior executed in timber. The house adopts a subservient stance towards the 
surrounding landscape, offering unobstructed views. It is deliberately reserved, aspiring to do no more than provide shelter, protection and an intense spatial connection to the landscape.