In 2005, Piet Hein Eek designed a vacation home nestled in the forest near Epse. Not far from this site, a family purchased a plot of land and sought our design expertise. The forest is home to two old vacation houses connected by garages. The slender building faces south with an open space, but it had become dilapidated and no longer met modern living standards.
Despite its condition, the building’s orientation to the sun and the open forest views are qualities we highly valued. Our goal was to simplify and modernize this small house, transforming it into a comfortable family vacation retreat. The elongated shape posed a challenge: the back of the house faces the road, dark and without views. To maximize living space, we decided to position bedrooms on this side and open the living areas toward the forest.
We arrived at a clear solution: divide the slender building lengthwise into two parts. The living area follows a classic, open-plan layout divided into three sections: kitchen, dining area, and lounge. The kitchen is centrally located, positioned in the middle of the garage that connects the two old houses. This arrangement enhances the floor plan, especially in summer, allowing the dining table to be placed outdoors facing the kitchen for seamless indoor-outdoor living.
Floor Plan and Section Diagram
To create enough space for the kitchen, it is backed by a bathroom that is narrower than the bedrooms. The left-to-right axis (a key concept in BIM design) not only facilitates an open living area with sunrise views but also allows bedrooms to be shaded from direct sunlight. This axis inspired us to raise the roofline, providing ample height for bedrooms and windows that bring in natural light and fresh air throughout the building’s length.
The roof redesign was possible because the original roof was already in poor condition and needed to be replaced. The unique old stone walls with their doors and windows were preserved—these historic elements were a primary reason for purchasing the property. The new design respects these original features and carefully considers the relationship between the building and its natural surroundings. The roof design evolves naturally from the house’s existing conditions.
Project Information
Architect: Eek en Dekkers
Location: Epse, Netherlands
Lead Architect: Iggie Dekkers
Year: 2018
Photographer: Thomas Mayer
Manufacturer: Unilin
Contractor: Hanzebouw BV
Construction Team: JV2 bou (BIM design), Wadvies BV
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