In spite of the prefab wood elements used in this construction, this private house on Steigereiland in IJburg conjures up the idea of an outsize, five-storey wood-carving. Maatworks architects were commissioned to fill the entire building envelope with a town house inspired by the clients? beloved Scandinavians houses. As in previous projects in IJburg, the architects used one material in particular: pine wood.Here that material was even painted bright red for the facade. Behind that eye-catching facade lies a prefab system based on glulam building components that allows the architect to connect nearly all the components both structurally and spatially. For example, the wall of the staircase are both banisters and walls for the adjoining rooms. Via a large skylight and several small openings in the stairwell, daylight penetrates deep into the house, an effect that is further enhanced by the floor-by-floor widening of the stairwell as it rises.
© Marcel van der Burg

Architects: MAATworks

Location: Edmond Halleylaan 44, 1086 Amsterdam,The Netherlands

Architect In Charge: Lidewij Lenders

Area: 312.0 sqm

Project Year: 2010

Photographs: Marcel van der Burg

Contractor: Kerkhofs Houtbouw, Henrik-Ido-Ambacht

Structural Engineer: Raadschelders-Bouwadvies b.v., Spaarnd...