Although there were no permitting restrictions for any of the individual houses, and 24H-Architecture had full reign to build freely, the streets in this Leiden neighborhood are chock full of buildings leaving little space for expansion. Instead of forcing small block houses, they created a meandering canyon effect by wrapping the houses around the courtyard with a transparent boundary wall. For privacy, or during the evenings, this canyon wall can also be closed.
The architects used certified wood in the building’s construction, but critics might still question the facade. Though we find it playful and not too wasteful, certain readers over at Arch Daily were not so convinced. One person likened the projected pieces, which are constructed from Corten steel, to “spaghetti straps.”
+ 24H-Architecture
Via Arch Daily
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Do you love or hate the wispy, abstract facade of 24H-Architecture’s Nieuw Leyden House? Designed to resemble a “canyon” in keeping with a technique employed to flood the building with plenty of natural light, the facade is either a playful excess or an
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The transparent wall meanders throughout the house
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The meandering effect creates a wonderful sense of movement and flow.
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Natural lighting floods both levels of the house.
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The canyon wall that separates the house from the central courtyard can be either transparent or closed.
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Although the facade and canyon wall comprise the main features of this home, the bathrooms are also beautiful.
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24H> Architecture used certified wood in the building’s construction.
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We love that this home is flooded with light.
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A close-up shot of the playful facade; the projected pieces are constructed out of Korten steel.
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A close up of the interior “wall” – redefining that to mean something far less solid than the status quo.
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A final shot of the interior, looking out into the shared, central courtyard.