Simmerhûs island home
The Simmerhûs on the Dutch island of Terschelling is a special assignment for Team V: designing a sustainable island holiday home that is both distinctive and characteristic of its surroundings. Nestled behind the unique ribbon of buildings in the village of Hoorn, the house is located right next to the church, the oldest building on the island. The design takes inspiration from the typology of nearby village barns, characterised by dark wood and brown-red gabled roofs.
The house is a simple structure: its timber-frame construction was delivered as prefabricated elements on three lorries and assembled in just three days. The positioning and roof shape subtly respond to the environment. The roof is unexpectedly rotated by five degrees in relation to the floor plan. On the church-facing side, the gutter line runs parallel to the ridge, creating a varying overhang. On the opposite side, the gutter diverges from the ridge, causing the roof edge to slope. This creates a playful effect, echoed in various parts of the interior. The façade facing the church is more closed, while the garden side is entirely open. A sculptural chimney provides shelter to the terrace. The roof gutters are lower than local zoning regulations prescribe, aligning better with the proportions of Terschelling’s traditional buildings.
The Douglas fir cladding comes from FSC-certified Dutch State Forestry Service woodlands. The planks were charred and brushed using the Japanese woodworking technique Sakaide – Shou Sugi Ban by Zwarthout. Shutters allow the windows and doors on the church side to be closed, blending them seamlessly into the façade. The roof is made of large, flat, rust-coloured ceramic tiles, each hand-glazed by Royal Tichelaar in Makkum. The roof edges and gutters are crafted entirely from copper. Eight solar panels, colour-matched to the ceramic roof tiles, are discreetly integrated into the roof. Skylights on the church side bring in ample daylight and offer views of the church tower. Simmerhûs has an A++ energy label and was sustainably built by the main contractor, Vreeker B.V., using timber construction, full insulation, triple-glazed windows, solar panels with power box storage, a heat pump, and a rainwater system that supplies purified water to the house and garden.
The interior of Simmerhûs is finished with wild pine veneer and ash, maximising the available space with tall windows, various sightlines, and creative perspectives. The interior, designed by the Kranen/Gille design duo, features numerous practical solutions and was entirely custom-made by Vreeker B.V. in a playful yet functional style. Inspired partly by Japanese aesthetics and functionality, the design is minimalist and serene, yet with an adventurous twist characteristic of Kranen/Gille’s work. This modest yet extraordinary house, measuring 75 m², comfortably accommodates 6 to 7 people. It is a sustainable design in terms of materials and maintenance, capable of withstanding the test of time while adding a contemporary touch to this historic location. The house is furnished with art and design objects client’s collection.