Story behind the design | part 2 | Our new house as a bridge between the two types of nature
- Linda van de Lavoir
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Growing up surrounded by nature with dirty hands and clothes, wild hair, and a face covered in freckles from the sun, it felt obvious that after fourteen years of living in the urbanized city (and having terribly missed the green surroundings of the past), our new home in Zeeland would be a place where the landscape and the garden would absolutely take a centre stage. Over the past few years, we have dedicated ourselves to carefully developing this plot of land (read more about this in part 1). to then design step by step a family home that would fit in perfectly. A world turned upside down, because often the house is conceived first and the rest follows...
In collaboration with VG architects, I went through an interesting process. During this process, the position, shape, and layout of the house were completely aligned with the new landscape, the garden we had just created, and the new garden yet to be created. By working closely together and listening to each other, the entire picture now fits seamlessly, and the bigger picture reflects who we are and how we want to live.
In this blog post, I'll take you through the design process for the house, garden, and landscape. Enjoy!
THE HOUSE AS A LINK BETWEEN TWO KINDS OF NATURE
You might wonder why on earth you'd start landscaping and gardening when it's still uncertain whether you're even allowed to build a new house. Moreover, at the time, we were also in the middle of the process of changing the environmental permit to residential zoning. So, there were a lot of uncertainties, but for me, it was pretty simple. A large garden and a natural landscape were my top priority; the rest would come later.
When we then had our first meeting with Dennis, our architect, he asked us two questions: should we present our dream project to the municipality right away, or should we first gauge their intentions for the location? We decided to take the risk that the plan might be rejected and immediately opted for the former.
With that choice, and the complete freedom to create something close to our hearts, the design process for the house began. The new location, the shape of the house, and the layout were slowly shaped and molded until we reached a result that made us all happy.
Now, looking back on the writing process, I realize again how special this journey has been and how much I enjoyed it (and still do!).
STEP 1 - POSITION AND SHAPE
Above, you see the landscape design we created before we started designing the house. Forest lines the north and south sides, with meadows and water in between. At the tip of the plot, at number 7 is the nursery is located, at number 3 the centuries-old barn and at number 4 the old house. Our wish was to build something new between the green area with number 6, where a small house from the Second World War once stood, but which was used as a storage shed. From this spot, you have a beautiful panoramic view. Bas loves the macro views, while I prefer the micro views. Furthermore, there's plenty of space here to create a garden around the entire house.
I made the first sketch and the shape of the house (below) myself, inspired by the Desert House . I find this house so incredibly beautiful because it blends seamlessly into the unique landscape. This house and this landscape were made for each other. The house doesn't look static or flashy, but rather humble, friendly, and harmonious. This was exactly what we wanted.
Dennis determined the final location for the house. We decided to preserve the small house because it has beautiful historical value. We would renovate it and convert it into an office. Because of this decision, the new house will be located behind this small building. To achieve this, we would have had to build outside the existing building site, and the new house would disappear from the street scape. These were challenging changes to request from the municipality, but we felt this position was completely right.
Dennis also came up with a new design and layout for the house, beautifully fulfilling our wish for two separate buildings connected by a glass hallway. The different volumes fit well in this area and are also playfully designed. We're not very serious ourselves ;)
Moreover, the layout and functions of the two buildings are perfectly aligned. The larger, first section is on one level and intended for the kitchen/diner and living room. The second section has two floors, the lower of which is semi-submerged. This way, we don't have to go too high. This is where the bedrooms, bathrooms, and Bas's office will be located.
STEP 2 - LAYOUT OF THE HOUSE AND GARDEN
Now that the position and shape of the new house were determined, we could delve into the details and align Dennis's design with both the existing and new gardens. Where should the window frames be placed and how large should they be? What would the sightlines through the house to the outside be? How would the height variations around the house evolve, and how could they influence the experience from the inside? And the most important question: how could the house become the link between the two types of nature?
These questions were frequently asked back and forth, with each time revised drawings being submitted, until we finally arrived at a design for both the house and the garden that truly delighted us. This house would allow us to enjoy both the macro and micro landscapes.
The house is constructed entirely of timber and features wooden cladding applied with a barcode profile. We chose a wood species that can age beautifully and therefore doesn't stand out too much from the landscape. Furthermore, the light color complements the two existing buildings with their orange bricks. The large windows face the landscape and the garden on the right, which is centrally located between the three buildings. From the house, you can access the larger terrace and walk through to the meadow. There's also a long path leading to the driveway. The rest of the house is surrounded by garden.
Between the two volumes, the garden level extends to the window frames, meaning that in the living room area on the left, you're literally "in" the garden. And when you walk through the hallway, you're walking "through" the garden. This highest point of the garden is a shady area, which we will plant with the most beautiful green textures and colors so characteristic of shade planting. A beautiful tree will also be planted between them.
From this highest point, the terrain on the right side drops back to ground level, while on the left side it dives a bit below ground level, so that the floor below ground receives sufficient daylight.
The first volume is more in touch with the garden, while the second is oriented towards the landscape. This creates a constantly changing view from the house.
STEP 3 - MERGE THE EXISTING AND NEW GARDEN
The new garden will be an extension of the existing one, with a few changes here and there. The old house will eventually need to be demolished, making the front garden considerably larger. Because we love to surround ourselves with a beautiful and natural garden, the borders will dance organically around the new house, the temporary home, and the shed. Between them, horizontal and vertical paths will form a grid-like structure, creating routes between the buildings, the garden, and the landscape. Five distinct planting moods will be created, repeating across the borders.
Together with the interior designers at Studio HUM, we'll ensure the garden perfectly complements the interior. I'd love to share more about this with you once this process is complete.
So that's the story of my house, garden, and landscape, which is, of course, told in a nutshell. If you'd like to know more or have any questions, let me know!
You will of course be able to follow the performance on Instagram.
Love,
Linda
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