House in a Cowshed
The aim of this design was to find an alternative to the conventional family house, which has become no more than a sum of rooms; rooms with an interior no more than a sum of furniture pieces. My alternative is a spatial configuration, in which the immovable furniture (like cupboards, kitchens) and separation walls are replaced completely by a new kind of superfurniture.
The aim of this design was to find an alternative to the conventional family house, which has become no more than a sum of rooms; rooms with an interior no more than a sum of furniture pieces. My alternative is a spatial configuration, in which the immovable furniture (like cupboards, kitchens) and separation walls are replaced completely by a new kind of superfurniture.
Superfurniture
The superfurniture spans trough the whole space of the house. It divides the space without having to close off any part of the house completely. The superfurniture contains spaces itself too, like seatsings and beds. Practically all the specific dwelling functions are integrated in it, offering an excessive amount of facilitates to the spaces around it. Therefore, the space around it can remain free and offer the users a lot of room to use as they would like.
The superfurniture spans trough the whole space of the house. It divides the space without having to close off any part of the house completely. The superfurniture contains spaces itself too, like seatsings and beds. Practically all the specific dwelling functions are integrated in it, offering an excessive amount of facilitates to the spaces around it. Therefore, the space around it can remain free and offer the users a lot of room to use as they would like.
Ensuite
In previous times it was more common practice for an architect to think about house interiors. That's why this house refers to many tradition solutions. The way i designed the superfurniture, is inspired on the "kamer ensuite". In the Netherlands most pre-WWII-houses have a living room divided in two by a thick wall with cupboards integrated in it. I applied that idea to the whole house by making two thick walls. A spiralling route crosses the walls several times. By making the the cupboards only accessible from the wall crossing, the free space stays untroubled, while all belongings are still near at hand.
In previous times it was more common practice for an architect to think about house interiors. That's why this house refers to many tradition solutions. The way i designed the superfurniture, is inspired on the "kamer ensuite". In the Netherlands most pre-WWII-houses have a living room divided in two by a thick wall with cupboards integrated in it. I applied that idea to the whole house by making two thick walls. A spiralling route crosses the walls several times. By making the the cupboards only accessible from the wall crossing, the free space stays untroubled, while all belongings are still near at hand.
In a cowshed
I designed this interior to fit into an existing cowshed in Eemdijk, The Netherlands. I think it can be very affordable and uncomplicated to build a house like this. But the main reason to reprogram this small building was, because i wanted to proof small houses can have interesting spatial configurations too. The odd shape and the limited sized forced me to come up with unusual solutions. By designing for this specific building, I wanted to proof that making a house with superfurniture can work in any shape and any size.
I designed this interior to fit into an existing cowshed in Eemdijk, The Netherlands. I think it can be very affordable and uncomplicated to build a house like this. But the main reason to reprogram this small building was, because i wanted to proof small houses can have interesting spatial configurations too. The odd shape and the limited sized forced me to come up with unusual solutions. By designing for this specific building, I wanted to proof that making a house with superfurniture can work in any shape and any size.
Tiny house, Living large
Conventional houses are not very spacious and rooms don't relate to each other. When space is limited, like in this cowshed, the conventional way would result in many small unpleasant rooms. That's why i looked for alternative ways to organise the house. I wanted to connect the different parts of the house and make them complementary. I want people to feel like they live in the whole house, instead of living in just one room. Also i developed methods to use the limited space more efficient, without compromising to the conventional needs.
Conventional houses are not very spacious and rooms don't relate to each other. When space is limited, like in this cowshed, the conventional way would result in many small unpleasant rooms. That's why i looked for alternative ways to organise the house. I wanted to connect the different parts of the house and make them complementary. I want people to feel like they live in the whole house, instead of living in just one room. Also i developed methods to use the limited space more efficient, without compromising to the conventional needs.
Redefining conventions
To get the best use of the limited space, I decomposed the conventional spatial units (like bed room, living room, kitchen) to their actual functions (like sleeping, relaxing, meeting and cooking). My aim was to fulfil the needs for every function. Because i didn't give every functions a whole room, I was able to avoid loosing space to unnecessarities. For instance, in this design no floor surface is lost to corridors and traffic space. Although the route through the house is relatively long, all parts of that route can be seen as usable space.
To get the best use of the limited space, I decomposed the conventional spatial units (like bed room, living room, kitchen) to their actual functions (like sleeping, relaxing, meeting and cooking). My aim was to fulfil the needs for every function. Because i didn't give every functions a whole room, I was able to avoid loosing space to unnecessarities. For instance, in this design no floor surface is lost to corridors and traffic space. Although the route through the house is relatively long, all parts of that route can be seen as usable space.
Generic demands, Specific solutions
When making visual connected rooms within a house, privacy becomes a main concern. The generic privacy conventional houses usually offer, turned out to be one of the many unnecessarities. Not all parts of the house require the same level of privacy. My design only provides privacy when needed or wanted. Although my design hardly includes a lockable room, it offers many places to retreat and hide. By making specific places like this, i was able to offer a lot of privacy and meanwhile maintain the open character of the house.
When making visual connected rooms within a house, privacy becomes a main concern. The generic privacy conventional houses usually offer, turned out to be one of the many unnecessarities. Not all parts of the house require the same level of privacy. My design only provides privacy when needed or wanted. Although my design hardly includes a lockable room, it offers many places to retreat and hide. By making specific places like this, i was able to offer a lot of privacy and meanwhile maintain the open character of the house.
Location Eemdijk
Year 2012
www.simonchristiaanse.com
Year 2012
www.simonchristiaanse.com
