Just outside Utrecht in the Netherlands sits an amazing tiny house that also doubles as a vacation cottage.
Created from a partnership between Utrecht-based studio Zecc and Roel van Norel, the first thought upon viewing it, is that it is a gable roofed house but there are some interesting features built into this house that make it really unique, and highly desirable.
The new building happens to be the foundation of a pre-existing cottage which was reused, as its contours. The use and choice of materials were made that fit seamlessly into the surrounding quiet, wooded countryside. Gray-green slate was used and the wood siding is Western Red Cedar.
Whilst you may expect the house to be symmetrical, it isn’t. The front of it has quite a generous roof overhang , whereas to the rear there in’t any. Instead it has a rear wall that has been fitted with slate roofing tiles that run the full height of the wall to the ground.
On the other side, what initially looks like a wall with no windows is actually a wall covered with a many louvered shutters that extends the full length of the house. The beauty of this is that when the shutters are opened, a full length wall of glass is revealed.
Fantastic for both daytime and night time aspects, when both privacy, daylight or sunlight become desirable. Even with the shutters all closed, the spacing of the cedar slats still permits adequate filtered light through.
The house has French doors at the gable end that provide entrance into the combined living dining and kitchen area which occupies approximately two thirds of the tiny house’s floor plan.
The remaining third is allotted to a sleeping area, where there is adequate space for a double bed and also an additional sleeping area from the ladder accessed loft immediately above. For privacy purposes, if you require it, the sleeping area is able to sectioned off through use of a sliding panel retracting wall
The whole back wall of the house is finished with several oak cabinets designed and built by van Norel. This is where you will find the service and storage functions all built in that all seamlessly integrate everything along the one wall; the kitchen, the bathroom, the toilet, the clothing storage and even a wood burning fireplace.
To enable everything to be fitted in the small narrow width of the area, the bathroom has been split into three areas; the shower is in compartments, the toilet and a simple handbasin in in another, and a larger sink in the other.
The shower is accessible directly off the bedroom which provides a real ‘ensuite like’ convenience for drying off without that cramped in feeling.
The garden house has been realized through a special collaboration between architects Zecc from Utrecht and the interior designer Roel van Norel. The basic concept was designed by Zecc, and then Roel van Norel has worked out the plan in detail and also created a of the internals.
A beautiful country side setting showing the french door end and entrance to the lounge kitchen dining area.
View of the kitchen and dining area area showing the oak cabinetry and the view to the outside through the french doors
The full height slate rear wall backing on to the service and ablutions
The slatted louver shutter wall closed up
The filtered light still entering the house with the slatted wall closed
The house with the shutters opened revealing a full length glass wall and a fantastic peaceful countryside view
The shutters when opened
The house situated amongst the wooded area showing off the rear slate wall
Photographs by/courtesy of Roel van Norel, and by StijnStijl
courtesy of Zecc.nl via Inhabitat and Small House Bliss
Information
Architect: Concept Design architects Zecc Utrecht;
Elaboration and interior: Roel van Norel
Contractor hull: Eastern Bridges Directory Utrecht
Finishing and interior: Roel van Norel
Glass constructions and components: Van Houten Hengstum