shift replaces wall for cabinet in historical amsterdam house

shift replaces wall for cabinet in historical amsterdam house
all images courtesy of shift architecture and urbanism

shift architecture urbanism has redesigned a historic family house in the indies neighborhood of amsterdam to maximize its relationship with both the street and its garden. a multifunctional wall cabinet, 14 meters in length, plays a key role in opening up the ground floor. the idea was to create a loft-like entrance by eliminating any walls and using the cupboard to house all the functional elements.

the wall cabinet is divided into three sections, each one represented by a different material

to emphasized the relationship to the street, one enters the house directly into the open living space and can immediately see the garden in the end. thus, the house is linked to the attractive sidewalk with its vertical gardens, typical for amsterdam. the seamless continuation of the indoor living area into the private garden is guided and strengthened by extending the wall cabinet into the garden defining a private terrace.

a sanitary pink laminate is used for the kitchen and dining area

the juxtaposition of three contrasting finishes for the cabinet differentiates the main living space. each material provides the space with a specific character that connects to its use: a warm plywood for the living, a sanitary pink laminate for the kitchen and dining area, and a weather resistant anodized aluminum for the terrace. the plywood section of the cabinet integrates a small winter-entrance, a stair, tv & audio and a wardrobe. the part in pink laminate contains kitchen appliances and cupboards. its arch-shape makes room for a recessed kitchen in black MDF. the last piece in natural aluminum accommodates a toilet and a garden storage while its cladding characteristics reflect the garden vegetation back into the house, enhancing the experience of the private garden, a true luxury in the old neighborhoods of amsterdam.

the arch-shape makes room for a recessed kitchen in black MDF

in contrast to the common use and open character of the ground floor, the two upper floors are divided for a functional layout of individual rooms for this young family. the first floor contains a working space, a master bedroom with walk-in-closet and a bathroom for the parents. the second floor contains three small bedrooms and a second bathroom for their three kids. ‘open house’ is an example of how the dutch inner city housing stock can be adapted to the needs and desires of young families with kids, avoiding them to leave the city for its lack of outdoor space and appropriate dwellings. urban residential areas such as the indies neighborhood should house multiple generations, cultures and incomes to remain attractive and socially sustainable.

the plywood section of the cabinet integrates a small winter-entrance plus a tv, audio system and a wardrobe

the cabinet enhances the experience of the private garden, a true luxury in the old neighborhoods of amsterdam

the aluminum part of the cabinet is extended to the outside hosting a toilet and garden storage

the openness of the space gives a contemporary feeling to the townhouse

from the sidewalk you can see the inside garden, connected by the cabinet

floor plans

section

elevation / section

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom