Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard

CONCRETE HOUSE ORGANIZED AROUND A CENTRAL COURTYARD

CLAUWERS & SIMON architectes

Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier

OTHER ARCHITECTS
Harm SAANEN, Corinne SIMON

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Inge Clauwers

MANUFACTURERS
Bocci, Bomarbre, Thermowood

PHOTOGRAPHS
CaroLine Dethier

AREA
219 m² 

YEAR
2016

LOCATION
Lommel, Belgium

CATEGORY
Houses  

Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier

Text description provided by architect.

An honest confrontation with the character of it’s materials has been the main thread in the design of this Belgian casted concrete house. A home that matures with time.

Exterior, the concrete is rough but at the same time the volume is still elegant due to a slightly sloping roof.

Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier

Vertical wooden cladding (ash thermowood) alternates with the concrete walls contributing to a warmer character and scaling of the volume.

Additionally the casted concrete leaves a distinctive signature by the use of a horizontal planked concrete formwork.

Guided by the wooden planks we come to a covered entrance.

Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier

Next to the front door an additional acces to the patio is also hidden in the wooden part of the facade.

The exterior finish is rough, in contrast the interior is designed more soft and smooth.

The organization of the house is circularly arranged around a central courtyard, to bring in additional light, making a visual connection to the exterior brutal concrete.

Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier

It’s an introverted plan that opens the kitchen and dining room generously towards the garden.

Large white curtains almost bring a mediterranean atmosphere to the house. The house opens at the backside to the garden, the concrete literally embraces the garden.

Thanks to the client, whose only demand was to have no visible supporting structure at the backside of their house, the large window opening of 840cm doesn’t have any concrete column.

Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier

Through generous light from both sides in the kitchen it was possible to use dark tinged ash thermowood for the kitchen cupboards and island.

A sliding door, also in dark tinged ash thermowood, divides the living room from a study, creating a space for privacy in the open-plan ground floor.

Round window frames bring in light from the courtyard into the staircase. Upstairs

Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
© CaroLine Dethier

The first floor gives room to 3 bedrooms and a guest room, sharing a stylish bathroom with granito tiles on the floor and part of the walls.


Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
Section


Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
Elevation Left
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
Elevation Front
Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
Elevation Back


Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
Ground Floor Level

Concrete House Organized Around a Central Courtyard
Upper Level