This timber-clad house by Dutch office Marc Prosman Architecten was one of the first to be constructed on an artificial island in IJburg, Amsterdam (+ slideshow).
As one of six man-made islands that make up the IJburg district, East Rieteilanden is a residential neighbourhood where approximately 80 new homes are in development.
Each residence on the island is given a similar-sized plot and is shaped by a series of construction guidelines. "The maximum size of the building has resulted in a uniformity of volumes on the island," Marc Prosman Architecten's Martien ter Veen told Dezeen.
For IJburg Villa, the architects designed a rectilinear two-storey volume with rectangular recesses creating an entrance porch and first-floor balcony.
Lengths of pine are arranged vertically across the outer walls and also provide shutters across the windows. The building is positioned beside the water, so a layer of green water-repellent foil is inserted behind the cladding and can be glimpsed through the gaps between each wooden panel.
"The brown timber gives the closed facade depth and lightness," says Ter Veen. "Its appearance refers to the reed that is planted along the shores of Rieteiland-Oost island."
An area of concrete surrounds the outer walls of the kitchen and indicates the entrance into the house.
Beyond the entrance, the kitchen is positioned on the right, a living room is to the left and a staircase leads up to three bedrooms upstairs. The largest of the bedrooms has a private bathroom and opens out to the balcony overlooking the water.
The architects also added a long bookshelf along one wall at ground floor level, which is lit from behind by a frosted window.
Other completed residences on East Rieteilanden include a house with an entirely glazed rear facade and a timber house with a spiral staircase on its side. See more architecture in IJburg.
Photography is by Milad Pallesh.
Above: site plan
Here's a short description from Marc Prosman Architecten:
On this new IJburg parcel Marc Prosman Architecten designed a detached villa, carefully embedded in this island by its open and panoramic qualities. This spacious experience with a beautiful view on the water resembles the client's wish for a sense of freedom and characterises the design.
Above: ground and first floor plans
The back facade is mostly glass fronts, providing access to a platform terrace and the building wide balcony. The fronts are subtly framed by the same wooden structure as all facades, giving this villa its coherent appearance. The entrance at the front is being accented by a concrete frame.
Above: long section - click for larger image
Next to the entrance the kitchen is situated; the living room at the back faces the water. One wall consists of glass, mainly. A horizontal strip of frosted glass on the outside is a bookcase on the inside. This welcomes diffuse light into the living room, without affecting the occupants' privacy.