i29 completes angular timber house as part of schoonschip floating village

for their latest project, the team at i29 architects has designed a three-story house in schoonschip – amsterdam‘s new floating neighborhood. located in the north of the city, the site intends to become europe’s most sustainable floating community. this dwelling realized by i29 marks one of 46, and is characterized by a simple yet smart design that embraces the eco-friendly and energy efficient principles that lie at the heart of schoonschip.

images © i29 / ewout huibers

the urban plan for schoonschip is designed by space & matter. the project revitalizes a disused canal to create homes for over 100 residents. the location has a strong industrial past but today it is one of the most rapidly changing city parts of amsterdam, transforming into a more multi-functional residential area. the new floating neighborhood is intended to be an urban ecosystem embedded within the fabric of the city: making full use of ambient energy and water for use and re-use, cycling nutrients and minimizing waste, plus creating space for natural biodiversity.

the site is energy self-sufficient, employs circular building practices, and serves as a showcase for sustainable living. a smart jetty connects the 46 floating households with each other and the quay. on the top surface, the jetty is a social connector where people meet. down below the surface, the jetty is a functional and sustainable connector with all the energy, waste and water lines attached to every household connected together.

each of the 46 houses is uniquely designed by different architects. for this building, the client commissioned i29 architects and asked them to design a house that would maximize the modest footprint while creating an architectural expression that is both typical and surprising. the floating home has a pitched roof, but the coping of the roof is turned diagonal in the floor plan, giving an optimization in usable space on the inside and an outspoken architectural design on the outside.

for i29, architecture and interior designs are always intertwined and connected on each level to make a clear and unified experience. the floating home exterior design is the result of a space extensional study within the interior and vice versa. all areas are in open connection to the atrium which comprises three floors. the layout is extended with a split level connection to a loggia terrace just above water level.

the interior and façade play with the views on the outside. views appear and disappear while moving through the home. the basement offers direct water level views, the living room only gives a view on the surroundings when sitting in the lounge and the kitchen on the top floor has directed views towards the south and north side of the canal. on the top floor, a cut out of the roof enables a loggia and open terrace with a view towards the harbor in the west.

despite a tight budget, the project has a unified architecture and interior design that leaves a strong impression. at the same time, the floating home is extremely energy efficient, eco-friendly, and built with a small footprint. sustainability goes even to a higher level with the implementation in the smart grid of the floating village. energy can be even more valuable when you share it.