Lightweight Steel Study House II Shines on the Dutch Waterscape

On a lake shore in Northern Holland in the provincial town of Leeuwarden sits the Steel Study House II, a follow-up experiment in residential housing by <a href="http://www.archipelontwerpers.nl/archipelontwerpers.html" target="_blank">Archipelontwerpers.</a> The lightweight steel <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/architecture/prefab-housing/" target="_blank">prefab home</a> takes full advantage of its plot situated in between the urban space of the town and the open water. Designed to provide privacy from the town while opening up to the landscape, the Steel Study House II is an exploration in both prefab housing and design for the ever-evolving urban environment.

The home is designed for the urban life as well as the open landscape.

The street-facing side of the Steel Study House II is designed for privacy, with operable shades and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/refocus-teaches-an-old-house-new-tricks-at-the-solar-decathlon/" target="_blank">louvered windows</a> that minimize sounds and maintain privacy.

The underground garage is accessed via a ramp off the street, and the service area is positioned away from prying eyes.

On the other side of the house, a large outdoor courtyard opens up to the water, offering fresh air, beautiful views, and sunlight.

Rather than situating the home in the middle of the lot with a yard surrounding it as a buffer zone, the home takes up a large portion of the lot and situates the "yard" in the center.

All of the rooms have views out into the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/off-grid-vacation-home-in-californias-gold-country/" target="_blank">south-facing courtyard</a>, which brings in the morning and mid-day sun while protecting the home from the hot afternoon sun.

Covered patios, louvers and shades help protect the floor-to-ceiling windows from solar heat gain.

The home is constructed out of lightweight <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/architecture/prefab-housing/" target="_blank">prefabricated</a> components set on a simple, orthogonal 6 x 6 meter grid structure.

he home was partially modeled after Steel Study House I (2003) and was tailored to the site to make the most of the opposing views of the town and the water.

The project is Archipelontwerpers' second prefab house, and it was designed in 2007 and completed in 2010.

The three-story home includes an underground garage and a protected courtyard.

The main floor features the kitchen, dining, enclosed living space and a courtyard with an outdoor living space. The courtyard faces south.

Upstairs there is a master bed and bathroom, three bedrooms, and a shared bathroom. All of the rooms look down on courtyard.