A tiny house with austerity stillness-and-tranquillity

A modest corner house near the old village of Vreeswijk was in a dilapidated and derelict state. Odette Ex, however, saw possibilities to turn the house into a ‘tiny’ house with a sense of spaciousness and the best possible usage. During the renovation, the design was radically changed, the house became a ‘EX-experimental lab’ where new compositions of materials and products could be tested without restriction. This gave the house a look of being a comfortable ‘wellness spot’ where you can stay with one or more people and where you can step from the daily hustle and bustle into a calm that is immediately felt. 

The project was tackled ‘hotel-style’ and, as a result, it does not have the specific look of a house. A hospitable space was created which gives you a feeling of being welcome and secure. The upper floor has a spacious bedroom with walk-in closet and a bathroom. By placing additional windows, the eye-catching light playfully enters like beams. An extension was added to the back of the house to accommodate the kitchen, the beating heart in the area that works like a connecting ‘object’. The large wooden sliding doors along the side provide plenty of light and can be fully opened with the first rays of sunshine, so that you can perceive an ideal indoor and outdoor feeling. 

By carefully selecting materials for their authenticity, a special tactility has been added to the interior. The ceiling and stairs in the living room are made of spruce and treated with a natural Sansin. Due to its nature-friendly composition, Sansin penetrates deeply into the core of the wood and ensures that it can continue to breathe. Ex experimented with old jute, a strong, plant-based fibrous material. This became the basic material for both the walls and floors, but the kitchen cupboards and the bathroom have also been clad with it. The jute structure has been treated with various colours of RAW Paint, a sustainable mineral-based paint powder. Because the jute absorbs the paint, it creates a nice depth effect. Where the wooden ceiling and jute-clad walls distinguish themselves through their lively appearance, they constitute a nice contrast with the austere character of the concrete floor. The creation of possible shrinkage cracks in the concrete and the frayed edges in the jute fit into the overall image that Ex intended, namely the interplay of forces between perfection vs. imperfection. 

The basis of the colour pallet is austere and subdued. As a rule, it was possible to achieve a great deal with very little. From the warm, deep, earthy browns and greys on the ground floor to the serene, hushed white on the upper floor, you perceive a modesty reminiscent of the simplicity of a Japanese interior. The overall look radiates a simplicity and warmth that is enhanced by the use of natural linens and pure materials. This makes it feel as if the interior ‘breathes’.