The architects stuck to the existing materials as much as possible though certain interventions, such as upgrading the outer walls and roofs, were necessary, as was insulating the building to improve its thermal efficiency. Some windows were also replaced, and inner walls were gutted to set the gaping living room free. The bedroom floors were replaced with bamboo, and skylights filter throughout the house.
Water is heated by the sun and the home via underfloor heating, as well as a very efficient wood-fired stove that is also used for cooking. All of the incandescent lamps were replaced with LED lighting that uses 90% less energy, punching a serious hole in the home’s overall carbon footprint. And for a final unique touch, a pump was installed to extract water from a nearby brook that is then splashed onto Villa 4.0’s roof, cooling the house down before the water loops back to the brook. We haven’t said much about the garden upgrades, but suffice to say this last renovation is certain to last a very long time.
+ Dick van Gameren Architecten
all images via Marcel van der Burg of Primabeeld
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Fresh off their round-the-world sailing trip, a Dutch family comissioned Dick van Gameren Architecten to give their new bungalow outside of Hilversum a super sustainable upgrade. Although not as efficient as their sailboat, the fourth upgrade to this 1960s hexagonal building in the Netherlands (hence its name Villa 4.0) does ensure that the building’s heating, cooling, and lighting will be achieved with the lowest possible energy consumption while also re-establishing its intimacy with the surrounding…
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After living on a sailboat for several months, a Dutch boating family wanted their home to be as sustainable as possible
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They discovered a bungalow in Hilversum, which had been built in the 1960s on a hexagonal plan.
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And commissioned Dick van Gameren Architecten to give it a sustainable upgrade
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Naturally, the architects were up to the task!
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Although every effort was made to use existing materials, some interventions were necessary.
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Outer walls and roofs were upgraded, and internal walls gutted.
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Newly installed insulation improves the building’s thermal efficiency
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And the home’s intimacy with its lovely green plot is re-established.
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Water is heated by the sun, while additional home heating is derived from an ecological wood-fired stove and underfloor heating.
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Skylights ensure that the house receives oodles of natural light.
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And the home relies on passive design for much of its cooling and ventilation.
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Additional cooling is provided by a unique pump system that splashes water from a nearby brook on to the roof!
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The bedroom floors are made from bamboo, one of the fastest growing and most sustainable materials.
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This is Villa 4.0’s fourth major upgrade.
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With new trees and bushes planted and felled ones stored for firewood, the landscaping puts nature at the heart of this home.
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Ensuring that this most recent renovation will last a long, long time.
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