De Smet Vermeulen Architecten was recently asked to update a house they designed ten years ago with a timber music room. Placed against a lush apple orchard, the new structure echoes the design of the house in its material selection and angular structure. The new building adds a music room, a chicken coop and a tool shed to the client’s idyllic property.

De Smet Vermeulen Architecten wanted the new structure to reference the original house, and so the main material chosen was sustainable timber. The timber frame and cladding was topped with a slanted roof made from corrugated metal. The roof naturally diverts rain, and also overhangs to provide a shady space for the family’s chickens to rest. Sections of the timber cladding have been painted red to connect the new structure with the main house.
Related: Parasitic Rehearsal Room Hangs Between Two Parisian Homes
Inside of the functional guest house, each of the spaces is accessed by a separate entrance, with no innerconnecting spaces. This creates a differentiation for each space, making each feel separate, instead of a unified house. The hobby room is lined with oversized windows which provide natural light, while the music room is lined with concrete, which not only soundproofs but naturally insulates. In winter, the space is heated with a small wood burning stove which warms the structure.
In addition to these new functional spaces, the structure features small sleeping alcoves in its attic, accessible by ladders for overnight guests and family friends.
+ De Smet Vermeulen Architecten
Via Dezeen