Woonpioniers builds a house that "moves with the dunes"

Dutch architectural studio Woonpioniers has built a house on the dunes in the south of the Netherlands using modular methods.

Located on Goeree-Overflakkee island, Duinhuis – or Dune House – was constructed using portable methods in efforts to adhere to strict building regulations on the Ouddorp dunes.

A large section of the dune area is part of the "Natura 2000" nature reserve, which means that the construction had to consider the rules around nitrogen emissions, accessibility, as well as building during bird nesting seasons.

To work within these constraints, Woonpioniers founder Daniel Venneman and his team built the three separate units of Duinhuis off-site. The bathrooms, wardrobes and built-in beds were also constructed in the factory.

"We manufactured the house in a factory with significantly limited on-site work and environmental disturbance," Venneman told Dezeen.

"The cool extra advantage of this working strategy was that the clients and their children could also participate in the assembly in the workshop."

After each component was fabricated and transported to the site, the three units – complete with their interiors – were put up in the span of a day.

"It was like putting together a puzzle," he said.

For support, the structure rests on top of minimally invasive steel stilts. The stilts were carefully vibrated into the ground to avoid shocks to the surrounding environment.

From the frame to the floors, the building consists almost entirely of wood.

Thermally modified wood was used for the window frames, facades and roofs, and from the exposure to the dune's salty and windy conditions will turn a silvery grey over time.

Solar panels were recessed and the gutters concealed in the exterior roof layer. A sheet of steel separates the roofs' interior and exterior, making it watertight.

"We work as bio-based as possible," Venneman explained. "By primarily using sustainable materials, our negative ecological footprint was kept minimal, and supported the 'barefoot' lifestyle that feels at one with nature."

As well as building regulations, the dune location meant that wind conditions had to be considered.

Factoring in the dominant wind direction and the possibility of other air streams, each section of the house was designed to be used as a shelter yet remain in the sun.

"That's why the design feels like it has no back, but three front sides," said Venneman.

The precise placement of each unit also resulted in a "kaleidoscope" effect, letting sunlight and sound oscillate through the space during the day. What resulted is a "sense of protected connection with the surroundings".

The units were staggered in height, allowing the building to follow the dune's natural topography. And, with each module sporting a slim glass facade, the rooms have unique views.

"With the three units sitting at varying heights, the house moves with the dune and nestles itself subtly into the existing environment," said Venneman.

"It was important for us to be aware of the fluidity of the dune landscape," he continued. "This kind of terrain demands respect, and that's the reason why we didn't reshape the dune composition at all before building."

Two of the three modules contain bedrooms, while the third unit holds the living space and a terrace.

The main bedroom sits over the dune ridge and is exposed to optimal morning light, while the living room and terrace receive evening sun.

The guest quarters rest on the north side and consist of two built-in box-beds. This section of the home also features a study and a bathroom that opens externally as well, useful for those returning from the beach.

Centred between the three sections, is a pentagon-shaped kitchen, which also opens up to the dunes on three of its sides.

The kitchen functions as the house's "floating link", with three full-height glass screens that include the primary entrance and sliding doors to a patio and the dunes. Low stairs lead to the other areas of the house.

"The central glass link is designed to blur the boundary between inside and out," Vennemann said. "When the sliding doors are open, the sounds of the rustling poplar trees and the wind are amplified, and a sea breeze flows directly through the centre of the home."

Connecting the kitchen and each unit are concealed doors that allow each section to become a private "small house" when needed. When they are kept open, the different heights are the only way to tell the different zones.

"It's a bit like you're still 'climbing the dune', despite being inside," he commented.

Previous houses built on and around sand dunes on Dezeen include Seabreeze, a holiday home in East Sussex by RX Architects, and House in the Dunes, a cabin in the Netherlands by Unknown Architects.

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