The Nieuw Leyden House’s Branch-Like Facade Meanders Like A Canyon Wall

Posted By Tafline Laylin On April 6, 2011 @ 12:24 pm In Architecture,Daylighting | 1 Comment

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Do you love or hate the wispy, abstract facade of 24H-Architecture's ^[6] Nieuw Leyden House? Designed to resemble a "canyon ^[7]" in keeping with a technique employed to flood the building with plenty of natural light, the facade is either a playful excess or an absurd waste - depending on each person's taste. Restricted by space, these two homes are built around a central courtyard with a "canyon wall" that flushes in light ^[8].

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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 ^[10], 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 ^[11] 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 ^[12] were not so convinced. One person likened the projected pieces, which are constructed from Corten steel, to “spaghetti straps.”

+ 24H-Architecture ^[6]

Via Arch Daily ^[12]

Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com

URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/the-nieuw-leyden-houses-branch-like-facade-meanders-like-a-canyon-wall/

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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/the-nieuw-leyden-houses-branch-like-facade-meanders-like-a-canyon-wall/

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[5]  : http://inhabitat.com/the-nieuw-leyden-houses-branch-like-facade-meanders-like-a-canyon-wall/slide2/?extend=1

[6] 24H-Architecture's: http://www.24h-architecture.com/

[7] canyon: http://inhabitat.com/hansa-canyon-temperature-sensitive-fixtures/hansacanyon/

[8] flushes in light: http://inhabitat.com/led-light-fixtures-create-the-illusion-of-daylighting/

[9] Image: http://inhabitat.com/the-nieuw-leyden-houses-branch-like-facade-meanders-like-a-canyon-wall/slide2/

[10] small block houses: http://inhabitat.com/portable-and-modular-prefabricated-slum-housing-concept/blocks-slum-housing-2/

[11] certified wood: http://inhabitat.com/geoffrey-lilge-crafts-beautiful-charcuterie-boards-from-fsc-certified-wood/fsc-wood-cutting-boards/

[12] Arch Daily: http://www.archdaily.com/124465/nieuw-leyden-24h-architecture/

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