A spiral staircase made from plywood is the showpiece of this thatched barn in Gelderland, the Netherlands, which architectural designer Julia van Beuningen has converted into a residence.
Van Beuningen has overseen a complete transformation of the late 19th-century building, named Barn at the Ahof, turning it into a rental home with four bedrooms and a large open-plan living space.
The plywood staircase was produced by manufacturer EeStairs
The plywood staircase, produced by manufacturer EeStairs, sits at the heart of the floor plan. With its precise curved geometry and slender components, it offers a playful contrast with the barn's rustic wooden columns and beams.
"We thought, if we're going to do something, we have to do it properly," Van Beuningen told Dezeen. The staircase leads up to a new first floor within the converted barn
"This is very different and very unusual in a barn like this," Van Beuningen added. "It's something you either love or hate, but it's definitely a statement."
Barn at the Ahof is one of several buildings on an ancient farming estate named Landgoed Appel that Van Beuningen inherited from her family.
She is planning to overhaul the entire site through a mix of rebuilds and refurbishments and create a series of low-energy houses that can be used for either long-term or holiday rentals.
An open-plan living space occupies the ground floor
As the barn had been previously renovated approximately 10 years ago, it didn't r...