Studioquint extends Dutch farmhouse with black-timber Shadow Barn extension

Dutch practice Studioquint has renovated and extended a farmhouse in the Netherlands, adding a barn-like form clad in black timber that was designed to resemble the "shadow" of the existing building.

Located in the village of Waterlandkerkje close to the Belgian border, the project, aptly named Shadow Barn, saw Studioquint tasked with adding more expansive living spaces to a traditional brick farmhouse.

To avoid disrupting the historic, compartmentalised layout of the existing building, the Hilversum-based practice added a new barn-like structure alongside, which was given over entirely to a single living, dining and kitchen area.

Connected via a new porch, this barn has been clad in black-stained timber, which was chosen to both mimic the agricultural structures typical to the area and to create the effect of the extension being the "shadow" of the farmhouse.

"Black wooden barn houses are a characteristic element of the local landscape and cultural heritage of the southern part of the Netherlands," project architect Oliver Ebben told Dezeen.

"Our material choice refers to the traditional building method and at the same time seeks more refinement and contemporary abstraction."

"In a metaphorical sense, the extension might be seen as an exaggerated shadow of the old farm house," he added.

Within the main volume of the barn is a kitchen and lounge area, while the dining space projects outwards slightly. It is flanked by two large windows and can be opened out onto an outdoor patio.

The new addition frees up space in the farmhouse itself to be dedicated to more private areas, such as the bedrooms and a workspace.

A small porch connects the old and new spaces, with a glazed door and large window that frame views across the landscape. The exposed brick wall of the farmhouse directly faces the contrasting white internal walls of the extension.

"The spatial concept embraces the traditional small room structure of the farmhouse," Ebben told Dezeen.

"To broaden spatial perception, the new extension provides one open space where different functional areas merge in a more informal way," Ebben said.

"The most significant gesture is the 'pulled out' dining area with big panoramic windows. If the weather conditions allow, it offers the view to the church tower at the Belgium side of the border," he added.

Dutch interior design studio SVDMdesigns led on the interiors of Shadow Barn, which are finished with white walls and ceilings and concrete floors that were intended to create light spaces that contrast the black-stained timber exterior.

Elsewhere in the Netherlands, Dutch studio i29 also used black timber to cloak the exterior of Senior Shelter, a home designed for an elderly couple in Hoofddorp, and V8 Architects used reused and recycled materials to create a pair or semi-detached homes in Rotterdam.

The photography is by Christiaan de Bruijne.

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