Located in North Brabant in the southern Netherlands, along a historic road lined with old farms, the Veldhuis (Field house) is conceived as a contemporary home rooted in tradition. Designed by LMNL office [for architecture and landscape], a Dutch studio specialising in architecture using natural and alternative building materials, Veldhuis draws on the archetypal Dutch barn typology: the design reinterprets familiar forms and materials — brick walls and a thatched roof — to meet the needs of modern family life.

The project reflects LMNL’s ongoing pursuit of low-carbon, bio-based construction methods that promote comfort through material performance rather than technology.

Form and layout

The home’s silhouette recalls a classic Dutch farmhouse, tapering in height and width towards the rear. This variation allows three storeys at the front (housing bedrooms, a study, and an attic) and a single storey at the back, where the living and dining spaces open outwards to the garden. At the centre of the plan are the kitchen, wet room, and garage. To introduce more daylight into the middle of the home, the roof has been cut and shifted outwards, while the kitchen extends into the garden, dividing the wrap-around veranda and providing views across the entire plot. A solar array is integrated into the veranda roof. The rear facade is fully glazed, framing views of perennial flower beds and multi-stem trees that lead the eye towards the wildflower meadow and open fields beyond.

Structure and materiality

Developed in collaboration with specialist consultants, the home’s bio-based cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure combines wood-fibre insulation and locally sourced Dutch thatch in a fully vapour-permeable construction — the first of its kind worldwide. This breathable assembly allows moisture to move naturally through the walls and roof, preventing condensation and maintaining a consistently healthy indoor climate. The innovative build-up was developed with the Dutch Trade Federation of Thatchers and Groene Bouwmaterialen, a Dutch platform specialising in natural and circular construction materials, demonstrating how traditional materials can perform to modern standards.

Environmental performance

The complex mass-timber structure was prefabricated in Germany and erected on site in just 12 days, using 128 cubic metres of wood — storing nearly 80,000 kilograms of CO2. Running the length of the house, a substantial earth-brick wall serves as a heating and cooling element while regulating indoor humidity. Together, the material choices maintain a stable and healthy indoor climate through their natural breathability and thermal properties. As a result, the building relies less on mechanical systems and more on the inherent performance of its materials, creating a naturally comfortable atmosphere. Radiant heating and cooling are provided by a ground-source heat pump.

Craft and detailing

The exterior is clad in locally made IJsselsteen-format bricks — small, hand-formed units produced by a nearby brickmaker using regional clay, echoing the traditional masonry of the area. Around windows and doors, specially glazed bricks accentuate the coloured, openable “shutters”. All windows are fixed, triple-glazed, and set within bespoke solid-oak frames, sealed with a clear finish to highlight the grain of the timber.

Interior character

Inside, a calm and tactile palette prevails: white clay plaster walls and whitewashed CLT contrast with oak floors and window frames. The geometry of the structure generates varied and surprising spatial experiences as one moves through the house.

Adaptability and landscape

The layout is designed for long-term adaptability. The ground floor can function as a self-contained living area in retirement, while the plan allows for the creation of a separate granny flat or even the future development of an additional house on the adjacent plot, ensuring the home remains flexible and future-proof. Durable materials such as CLT, lime-mortared brick, and Accoya wood were chosen for their longevity and potential to be reused or renewed over time.

Formerly a sheep meadow, the garden is now organised around twelve newly planted mature trees. It features perennial beds, a lawn, a small water feature, an orchard, and a wildflower meadow, extending the home’s biophilic sensibility into the surrounding landscape.