Year of completion: 2022
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Area: 222m2 GFA / 161m2 UFA
Architect: CUBE architecten (www.cube-architecten.nl)
Lead architect: Pieter van der Pot
Structural Engineer: Brouwer+Kok
Constructor: Bouwgroep Haarlem
Photography: Roos Alderhoff (or CUBE architecten if specifically mentioned)
Steel window frames: MHB and Perfect View Windows
Flagstone facade and terrace: The Flagstone Company

About Studio

CUBE architects develops creative strategies for space, transformation, sustainability, and living. CUBE is an ambitious and enterprising architectural firm where strategic thinking is central. We also want to make a positive contribution to a sustainable society.

Their field of activity includes interior designs and (collective) private homes, but also redevelopment assignments, sustainability advice and special projects in the public space. They respond to current issues and look for smart and high-quality options for the (re)development of buildings or (residential) concepts.

CUBE architects stands for a substantive and integral approach. A successful project uses all the possibilities it has within it; spatial, conceptual, programmatic, financial, and functional. They develop a good total concept based on common principles.

They believe in the dynamics of the environment and the task. A design is more than realizing square meters. It is an integrated strategy to create smarter and better space for future users and initiatives.

CUBE-architecten was founded in 2005 by Pieter van der Pot and Remco Wilcke. Not much later, Marloes van Heteren also became part of CUBE. The latter two have continued over the years with other ventures outside of architecture. Pieter van der Pot is currently leading CUBE architects.

The classic front of the house is hard to see from the rear. While the front is burned wood, the facade is a traditional Japanese technique known as 'Shou Sugi Ban,' which protects the wood with a thin charred layer. — The classic front of the house is hard to see from the rear. While the front is burned wood, the facade is a traditional Japanese technique known as ‘Shou Sugi Ban,’ which protects the wood with a thin charred layer.

The old part's secure and welcoming feeling blended with the open and transparent sensation of a modern home. — The old part’s secure and welcoming feeling blended with the open and transparent sensation of a modern home.

The dining area is combined with the house's tiny living room, which has a large multi-purpose furnishings. — The dining area is combined with the house’s tiny living room, which has large multi-purpose furnishings.

The dining space of the house is visible from the outside because of to the large transparent glass wall. — The dining space of the house is visible from the outside to the large transparent glass wall.

The kitchen is built into a freestanding rough natural stone wall. The open kitchen diner floor in the new extension is two steps lower than the living room floor in the older part.

The house originates from 1934 and was relatively untouched. The goal was to make it a lot more energy efficient and quite a bit larger. The old house did have a lot of character and details we wanted to keep. With the new extension we wanted to merge a completely different style and atmosphere with this 1930’s ambiance; the secure and warmth atmosphere of the old part combined with the open and transparent feel of a modern home.

The floor of the open kitchen diner in the new extension is placed two steps lower than the living room in the older part. Looking from the backyard you can’t really see the classic front of the house. Yet from the street you can hardly see the modern extension in the back. And yet on the inside the 2 merge easily.

We extended the house with a 5 meter deep extension over all 3 floors. We used 3 different materials in this design; burned wood, glass and rough stones. The burned wood on the facade is an old Japanese technique called ‘Shou Sugi Ban’ to protect the wood with a thin charred layer. Unlike paint this does not have to be redone every once in a while. All black solar panels are installed completely flush with the charred wooden slats

The kitchen is situated in the freestanding coarse natural stone wall. This wall is connected to the house only by a strip of triple glass, like a drawer that has been pushed out of the house itself. From the kitchen you can look past the house on the bridge and see everyone coming up to the house. Because the glass on the ground floor is set back a little, a small veranda is created. The 3 columns supporting the rear facade reinforce this effect. Hereby we were able to place a large transparent glass front to the green garden and still manage to create a somewhat secure atmosphere.

Updating the old part of the house to modern standards required the necessary energy-saving measures. In addition to cavity insulation, the existing facades were given high-quality insulation on the inside. This had to be done on the inside to preserve the old 1930s character of the house. Even the existing stairs have been moved in order to be able to continue the insulation against the facade.

In addition, the existing roof on the old part of the house has also been replaced by insulated sandwich panels and the entire ground floor has also been replaced by a new insulated floor. We wanted to keep the old stained glass, but placed this in double glazing. For the new large glass front in the rear we opted for triple glazing.