From this monumental warehouse in the center of Amsterdam, it’s possible to hear sounds of monkeys and lions from the nearby Artis Zoo. The family who occupy the three floors in this warehouse apartment, wanted to transform their five meters wide and thirty meters deep house into one whole. An extensive remodelling followed, where the narrow and dark house was given a whole new structure and format, which translated into a light and spacious family home.
During the renovation, as many walls as possible came down. As a result, new lines of sight were created on the different floors, daylight could invade the spaces. Central to the premise of the whole building is the architectural stairway, with its block of cupboards stretching out directly beside each staircase in one continuous block. This ensures that the whole house has ample storage space throughout and for the bathrooms and the kitchen. Even the technical rooms and installations have their own cupboard.
The kitchen has been moved to the ground floor, and the first floor now houses the living room and master bedroom with an en suite bathroom. The second floor accommodates the children’s bedrooms, a playroom and a bathroom. To ensure as much light as possible, every wall and ceiling has been plastered white. Against this background the original wooden beams also come fully into their right. All levels have a light coloured, practical cement floor. To complement the daylight, the house has a sophisticated lighting plan. And the stairwell can be lit up in any colour with LED lights.
The living room has two seating areas: a lounge area with fireplace and a TV corner with a large, horseshoe shape sofa. This way, everyone can do their own thing and still be close together. Two leather armchairs, a wooden coffee table and art on the walls create atmosphere and colour. The ground floor kitchen is modern and sleek, with a stainless steel countertop. The durable kitchen table has a custom-made bench along the wall, which offers plenty of seating. A number of tulip chairs in contrasting colours create more seating around the table. The two spherical lamps above the table are made out of narrow strips of stainless steel with LEDs in between. The spatial, geometric form ensures transparency and a sea of light.
