Dezeen promotion: wooden cladding and decking brand Thermory's thermo-ash cladding wraps the interior and exterior of a contemporary country home in the Netherlands designed by Maas Architecten.
Modern House by the River is a family residence located in a forest clearing on the edge of the river IJssel in Gelderland.
Maas Architecten chose to use Thermory's wooden cladding both inside and outside, to help the house fit into its woodland setting.
The thermo-ash cladding gives a rich brown tone to walls and ceilings. It is contrasted by crisp white surfaces that help to create a balance of light and dark.
"The deep brown tone and texture of the timber cladding contrast beautifully against the white facade, floor-to-ceiling windows, and the lush green surroundings," said Thermory.
The house takes its cues from modernist architecture, and is made up of three flat-roofed, single-storey volumes.
To negotiate the slope of the landscape and allow room for a basement, one of these volumes is set slightly lower than the others, giving a more dynamic quality to the layout of the interior.
The largest of the volumes is rendered white while the other two are wrapped in the ash cladding, which features various thicknesses to give it a more textural quality.
This cladding is designed to provide a protective outer skin. Not only is ash a highly durable wood, it has been thermally treated to give it an extra layer of stability.
"Thermal modification enhances wood using heat and steam," said the brand. "During the thermal modification process, the wood's density decreases and its structure changes, which gives thermally modified wood products many advantages: increased dimensional stability, increased biological resistance, better heat and sound insulation, lighter weight, and moreover, it is a chemical-free process."
For the interior, which was designed by Amsterdam-based design studio Grand&Johnson, it is the same two volumes that are lined with wood. The aim was to create a feeling of continuity between inside and out.
Clever joinery helps to give depth to the surfaces, many of which integrate doorways and storage spaces. There are also some slatted areas, which offer variety.
The darkness of the wood is complemented by large pale-toned floor tiles, contemporary lighting fixtures and minimal glazing, which includes a 30-metre-long window wall facing the river.
"The tranquility and simplicity that the house exudes fits perfectly into its environment," said the brand.
"Opting for a dark shade of timber doesn’t make the house look sombre," it added.
"Light floors and walls balance the deep shades of the wood and big windows offer delighting views of the surrounding nature."
The cladding supplier for Modern House by the River was InterFaca.
Photography is by Flare Department
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Thermory as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.