Dutch interior architects i29 has designed a tiny holiday home for a family of four into the lush green nature of Vinkeveen, a floating residential enclave of interconnected islands in the Netherlands. Situated on an elongated island plot close to the lake, the positioning of the building volume is related to the views on the surrounding water and the orientation on the sun. By dividing the volume into four parts, the panoramic views and the invading sunlight become very specific.
On the outside the diversity in size and the interconnected positioning create a sculptural image, looking different from every angle. In order to intensify this sculptural quality, all facades have a minimal design with invisible roof endings and window frames detailed behind the wood facade. All volumes have big windows or sliding doors which can be opened completely to fully merge the inside with the outside.
On the inside, the dimensions and ceiling heights of the different volumes clearly articulate the separate area’s and functions in the house. Long sightlines crossing the outside patio provide a visual connection. By opening up large sliding doors of the patio the volumes of the kitchen and living are physically connected. Custom furniture and integrated cabinets accentuate the graphical quality on the inside. We made use of simple materials like natural oak wooden panels -or stained black to combine with the rough pinewood facade- and a continuing polished concrete floor.
Amsterdam-based i29 interior architects, which designed the house in collaboration with architect Chris Collaris, strived for a design strategy in which architecture and interior come together in a model combination. Each volume has its own program. By linking interior components to the architecture and vice versa, the result is a high-quality project not dependent of expensive materials or technical show.
In every detail, the design team aimed for the ultimate space-efficient solution. Every aspect of the design is approached to produce a pure and unified experience to leave a strong impression. “Making quality projects is, in our opinion, not always ‘the bigger the better’,” explains i29. With simple yet smart interventions this project is of the highest standard and at the same time energy efficient, eco-friendly, and built with a small footprint. In this sense it’s a model example of a tiny house; smart, comfortable but with no consessions to quality in both the interior and architectural design; small is beautiful.
