Floating
house

01 /
Project informationPERIOD
2020TYPE
RESIDENTIAL, VILLALOCATION
MUIDEN- NETHERLANDSSIZE
350m2STATUS
UNREALISED

Floating house characterizes itself because of its four unique façades. Usually, buildings have a distinction between the front, back and side façades. But with Floating House, every façade was carefully designed in detail.

Situated in the middle of the plot, every face of the building gets its own garden. This makes the residence connect especially well with the natural surroundings. Nature is let into and admired from every side of the house. This is emphasized by multiple terraces, each creating serene places to sit and enjoy the sounds and views of the forest.

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Water as a connecting element

Connected pool

Water plays an important role in this design. Adjacent to the plot, a calm river flows by, providing a lively background for the house. Water is therefore brought into the building, in the form of a pool. This pool functions as a connecting element and creates a dynamic atmosphere.

Water brings life

Floating above ground level

Give nature space

Another important aspect in the design of Floating House is, like the name suggests, that the building seems to float above the ground level. By creating a receded black plinth, the ground floor gets more body and height, creating better views of nature. This hovering also makes room for nature to grow underneath the house, essentially acting as a foundation for the design.

Hover over nature without interfering

Used materials

Only the
essential

Nature comes back in the materialisation of this building. Through minimalistic materialisation, the building allows the focus to be on nature. With raw concrete as a base for the design, natural details such as the green wall and roof get more attention. Japanese black wooden slats create a harmony between nature and humanity and acts as a connecting material, between the heavy concrete and light wooden forest.

Concrete In-situ

Green

Shou Sugi Ban wood

Black aluminium

GROUND FLOOR

Harmony and connection continue in the interior, as every function is connected to each other. With careful design, the number of doors between two important functions was reduced to just one. The kitchen, central in the design, functions as a connection between the living room, two terraces and the main hallway which includes a library and the staircase to the upper level. The one door separates the master bedroom from the hallway. Privacy is secured by extending the wall between the kitchen and the master outside, which allows different views from the kitchen and master as well.

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FIRST FLOOR +1

The first floor houses two luxurious ensuite bedrooms, an office and some storage space. The central void connects the two floors and the imposing glass façades on either side of the volume open up to allow remarkable views. The materialisation of the second floor is notable, as it is just one material: Japanese black wood. This gives weight to the composition of the house but also ensures that the upper level is subsidiary to the ground floor.

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FLOATING
ENTRANCE

FRAMING THE ENTRANCE

Five floating steps provide a staircase to walk up to the entrance. The steps are highlighted by LED-lines underneath, emphasizing the floating theme of the design. The entry is framed by a raw concrete display, accentuating it to become recognizable as an entrance.

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Step stone floating stairway

"The central expression of nature and connection come together in this design. The materialisation and the composition of the volumes harmonize and make this house one of a kind."Bruce Verdonschot | Architect STATE