Simmerhûs

Simmerhûs lies tucked away behind the row of houses in the village of Hoorn, right next to the church, the oldest building on the island. The design is based on the barns behind the surrounding village houses: dark timber and a rust-brown pitched roof. It is a simple building whose position and roof shape respond subtly to their surroundings. On the garden side the façade is very open, and the sculptural chimney shelters the terrace. On the church side the house is deliberately more closed. Shutters can black out the windows and doors, so they disappear subtly into the façade. Simmerhûs is a sustainable design, in materials and in upkeep, that will stand the test of time and adds something contemporary to this historic spot.

The house clearly refers to the past, yet Team V Architectuur gave it a bold, contemporary character. The roof is unexpectedly turned five degrees relative to the floor plan. On the church side the gutter runs parallel to the ridge, creating a tapering overhang. On the other side the gutter does not follow the ridge and the roof edge slopes down. The gutters sit lower than the zoning plan requires, in keeping with the proportions of traditional buildings on Terschelling.

The Douglas fir of the façade catches the eye. It comes from Staatsbosbeheer forests and is FSC certified. Zwarthout charred and brushed the boards using the Japanese technique Shou Sugi Ban. The roof is covered with unique handmade tiles by Koninklijke Tichelaar from Makkum, and the roof trim and gutters are made entirely of durable copper. Eight solar panels, coloured to match the tiles, lie flush in the roof. Simmerhûs has energy label A++. Vreeker B.V. fully insulated it and fitted triple glazing, solar panels with battery storage, a heat pump and its own rainwater system that supplies the house and garden with filtered rainwater.

Inside, Simmerhûs is entirely handmade and finished with wild pine veneer and ash. Tall windows, views through the house and sightlines make the most of the available space. Simmerhûs is a modest but special house in shape and size (75 m²) with room for 5 to 6 people. Design duo Kranen/Gille gave the interior a playful design, full of practical solutions and made entirely to measure. In its proportions, production methods and layout, their design draws partly on Japanese functionality and aesthetics: minimalist and serene, but with the touch of tension and adventure that marks the designers' work. Simmerhûs is furnished with unique art and design objects from the collection of Anne van der Zwaag, of design fair OBJECT Rotterdam and art fair Big Art.