Braassem Dyke House
Nominated for the Rijnland Achitecture Prize 2025
Living in a high-end loft space overlooking the Braassemermeer
Loft apartment on the firstfloor
Integrated terrace and balcony outdoor spaces, sheltered from wind
Environmentally friendly facade materials
Raw material interior finishing, concrete floors and ceilings, wood walls and custom made cabinets
Using wood materials or no finishing interior materials to reduce the environmental footprint
A++++ Energy Label (produces more electricity than it uses)
The Site
The building stands as a separate entity, on one side between a row of 1980s houses that complement the small-scale development along the harbor, and on the other side between two separate, detached, traditional houses. With this building in between, a collection of four buildings is complete. Completely different in style, yet similar in size and scale, and the use of materials like brick and wood. In contrast to the traditionally organized surrounding houses, the main rooms in this design are located on the first floor. This allows the building to be above the road level along the dike, allowing for living on the Braassemermeer lake. The building’s programmatic design is reflected in the facade, where a slightly grayed, nautical, sculptural volume stands on a black plinth. The plinth houses the two entrances, a carport, a covered outdoor area, and more. At the front, the hard transition from the dike road to the front door is softened by an open porch leading to the entrances to the house(s). The grayed nautical volume has three roofs that divide the volume vertically; behind these also lies the programmatic division of main rooms, ancillary and facility spaces.
The house is designed with the main living areas and bedroom upstairs, and other bedrooms/office and a second living room downstairs. This allows for easy use as an assisted living unit in the event of an unforeseen future, or even to be divided into two apartments with a downstairs and upstairs unit. The addition of an elevator is also possible in the future. The downstairs apartment is currently temporarily occupied by one of the eldest children (who has her own apartment).
The vast open space of the Braassemermeer is breathtaking, but also exposes you to strong winds, among other things. By creating outdoor space at both the front and back, the design ensures there’s always a place where a door can be left open, offering shelter from the wind, the wind, the sun, and so on.
See the proud owners enjoying on the front balcony?
Future-Proof and Surrounded by Outdoorspace
Materials and Details
Carefully crafted detailing of thermally preserved wood, with the roof serving as the fifth facade (visible location). Various details in the overlying, weathered volume, such as bay windows, a huge flower-frame, or a framing window, tell the story behind the house’s facade to the street. The street-facing loggia also represents a completely new addition to the private-public relationship between residents and the surrounding area. All in all, a wealth of possibilities for maximizing dialogue between the building and its surroundings, residents, and neighbors. The plinth is contrasting in color and subtly detailed, with continuous bed joints. Several narrow, recessed vertical windows on the street side prevent passersby and residents from seeing each other face to face. A single flower-frame window, detailed flush with the facade, serves as an exception, behind which the main living space on the ground floor is located. The entrances to the houses are significantly recessed, providing protection from the elements and subtly creating a transition between the private and the street.