CUBE Architecten designed this distinctive loft located on the first floor of a historic warehouse in the center of Amsterdam.

When they found the monument it was still in use as a warehouse, as two separate long and dark rooms of 100 square meter each. They bought the place and hoped the council would let them change the status to “dwelling”, which they did after all the plans were submitted. So in 2008 the old warehouse has been completely transformed to a 200 square meter luxury loft.

The wall between the two rooms has been opened up, and in the architecture a contrast has been sought between preserving the historic beams and floors, and minimalistic new additions. The new additions such as kitchen and bathroom would be clearly identifiable as such in terms of materiality and form. Because it is a deep and relatively low space, and letting daylight in is therefore very important, an open floor plan is chosen. The open floor plan also fits the idea of the autonomous designed additions to the ancient monument.

The bathroom is the central element in the house situated at the intersection of public and private. The rounded translucent bathroom-wall consists of nearly 1.000 very special glass blocks and acts as a subtle light-object at night next to the dining table. They actually are IKEA vases that are painted white from the inside, and glued together with transparent glue.

Photos by CUBE Architecten

via CoolBoom

It is a live/work studio (the translucent part upstairs is the “live”).

Inside, light is baffled by a series of seamless white lacquered panels whose reflective qualities diffuse light.

These screens can be slid back or forth to hide or reveal the live/work spaces inside, while minutely controlling the light for the photographer.

The clarity of this simple, open spaces in the minimalist landscape is delicious. The double height space floods the live/work studio with diffused Northern light.

The effect of the clear transparent cube on the matte black facade of the granite plinth is almost lantern-like. But this is not just for good looks.

If exposed to the sun, the gigantic expanse of black granite can act as a huge thermal mass that soaks up the suns warmth during the day, and breathes it back out at night.

You might worry that solar gain could make this ice-maiden live/studio into a hothouse on a sunny day. But floor-to-ceiling sliding panes allow it to be completely open to natural ventilation. The roof outside is painted white with a special cool roof paint. This prevents excessive heat gain.

Because of the site – on a lake – a deep-water exchange is utilized to alternatively heat or cool the building year–round through radiant slabs in the floor.

Just one more way to build green.

]]> https://www.loftenberg.com/a-photographer%e2%80%99s-glass-cube-studio-on-stony-lake/feed/ 0