#blackwood

Set in the wooded surroundings of Hollandsche Rading in the Dutch province of Utrecht, Black Gemstone was designed by MONK Architecten BNA as a dark, folded volume among the trees. The facades and roof planes flow visually into one another, giving the house the character of a black gemstone. Behind this form is a sustainability strategy centered on extensive timber construction, reduced energy demand, renewable energy generation, and durable materials that can be maintained selectively. Peter Cuypers Sustainability is integrated into the design rather than treated as a separate technical addition. The structure, building envelope, interior, and building services were approached as a single system, with each layer contributing to redu... More