Longhouse

In a narrow lot, between an urban and rural area of the Dutch town Amersfoort, lies a private residence featuring a modern interpretation of a historical architectural style – the Longhouse, designed by Rick Eijsbouts from Architecten Studio-pls.

The traditional longhouse, with its easily recognizable long façade, has been used throughout the world for many centuries. In the Netherlands, the style’s history is mainly agricultural, yet Eijsbouts has reinvented the iconic shape with an urban look, reminiscent of the past, and full of sustainable solutions.

The, 'rustic modern' style of the Longhouse is striking. It seems to balance perfectly between modern and rural and between high-tech and natural. For this reason, it has generated much attention and has even been featured on the Dutch TV show BinnensteBuiten.

The owners wanted a bold house with a slightly industrial theme. To achieve this, steel and wood were chosen as exterior materials to create a simple, modest and clear look. However, the internal design seeks the utmost complexity, to make the spatial experience as spectacular as possible.

The construction of the Longhouse is unique. The color coated steel GreenCoat^® was chosen for the roof due to a numer of reasons. One of them was the ability to create sharp lines for a very graphical house, where the vertical lines match that of the wooden façade with its openings in combination with the solar panels. Other reasons were proven long-lasting durability as well as sustainability.

To address modern, environmental building trends most GreenCoat^® products feature a Bio-based Technology (BT) coating with a substantial portion of Swedish rapeseed oil instead of fossil based oils, which are traditionally used. Additionally, they are also strongly resistant to corrosion, UV radiation, buckling and scratches.

The easy handling and good formability of the chosen GreenCoat Pural BT product contributed to a smooth build as well as a seamless look on the roof. It was used in a pre-fabricated profiled sheet for roofing called the KlikFels system, manufactured by SCH Holland.

When it came to the choice of color, a matt black shade was used to make the shape of the house stronger. It creates a distinguished roof that combines perfectly with the wood, which will turn grey as it ages.