Model of Proposal 2

The architecture is a blend of the Dutch thirties, the North Holland wooden house, the Amsterdam canal house and the Japanese roof as seen in Dutch thirties design (see posting below).

(Click on the images to enlarge)

Views from the street. The main entrance is on a landing of the stairs. This landing is a stage for a view on the greenery.

Rear facade with two balconies. The balcony to the living room has a retractable sunscreen offering a veranda.

Elevations of Proposal 2

(Click on sketches to enlarge)

Front facade facing west and side facade facing south

Rear facade facing east and side facade facing north

Japan inspired Dutch architecture

Nowadays a true revival of this "architecture of the thirties" is taking place in the Netherlands. This architecture is inspired by the work of the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright was an important liaison between Japanese and western architecture.

An important feature is the prominent roof, indicating that the house is offering shelter to its inhabitants. This roof clearly is a Japanese item. In temple design the roof is at least two third (!) of the temple's height.

Evaluation of Proposal 1 (postings below )

Too not Japanese
First and major comment on the architecture of Proposal 1 is that the image is really very Dutch. And for this case too Dutch. Not that there might be something wrong with this Ducthness, it is more that it is too much not Japanese. Its location is in a common Tokyo residential area and the Dutch image might stand out too much. It might offend the neighbours.

Dutch friends suggested that in a neighbourhood it is good to have a landmark for orientation. And why not be the owner of that landmark?

In the Netherlands we would appreciate that being a landmark and not mind too much about the neighbours. Also living next to a landmark is often considered an added value. Part of the building permit application procedure is a check by a governmental architects committee (Welstandscommissie). They decide on whether it fits with the surrounding architecture.

In Japan an architectural check is not part of the permit procedure. There is little governmental policy on architecture. Principals are very prudent and avoiding any chance of offending anyone is the common practise.


Too flat volume
The second comment is that the design is 'too flat'. This is about the volume of the building. In Japanese architecture houses are a composition of volumes playing with the relation between the interior and the outside world. Houses are mostly detached. Buildings do not contribute to the streetscape (see posting on Dutch architecture below). Thus Japanese taste says that Dutch street façades are too flat. Dutch taste says Japanese street façades are messy.


Good layouts
Third comment is on the floor plans. The principal appreciates the efficiency of the layout and the practical and spacious design.

In Japan it is common to have the bathroom on the ground floor. In the Netherlands we would combine the bathroom and the bedrooms on one floor. It is considered the more private section of our homes. Visitors and friends are invited in the living room and everything on ground floor. In general the ground floor is the more public section whereas the upper floors are more private.

The bathroom in the basement might be left out. The architect recommends to at least make provisions for a future bathroom.

Entrances and accesibility
The fourth comment is on the stairs at the entrance. As the principal will share the house with his parents who are retired, a level entrance might be preferable. The half level raising of the ground floor is introduced in the design to allow a basement car park and a full size ground floor at the same time. The two independent entrances for the main house and the basement flat are a spin off.


Conclusion

The principal will conisder the stairs at the entrance issue.

The architect will work on the architectural design looking for a combined Japanese Dutch outlook.

Model of Proposal 1

(Click on images to enlarge)




Front facade, facing west and entrance to the street. On top three Dutch icons as ornaments: a chunk of cheese, wooden shoes and a tulip.







The basement is half level in the ground. First floor is half a level above ground level providing a nice view outward, privacy and a terrace (on the rear) over the garden.






The basement flat is independently accessible from the front, as we saw in traditional Amsterdam architecture. The ramp is the entrance to the basement car park.

(See posting below or use link on the left).

Side facade facing south, few windows, white coloured to keep the heat out. Terrace on the south east half level above the garden. On the second floor is a balcony half loggia. Both balconies are 2 meters (6' 8") deep offering true comfort.

Elevations of Proposal 1

(Click images to enlarge)

Front facade, facing west. Attic window showing the year of construction.


Side facade, facing north. Street is on the right.


Rear Facade, facing east into garden. White part is the kitchen.

Side facade. Facing south. Street is on the left, garden on the right.

Floorplans of Proposal 1 (drafts)

(Click plans to enlarge)
Second Floor (click image to enlarge)


First Floor (=Ground Floor)


Basement

Basement (option)

Dutch Icons

Tulips are often seen as typical Dutch. It is true that we grow them a lot. And sell them throughout the world. Nevertheless the tulips originate from Turkey.



Dutch cheese is a delicatessen.

The real Dutch thing is the wooden shoe: "klomp".

Traditional architecture in Holland

The Dutch streetscape mostly shows non-detached houses, shoulder to shoulder. The fronts are on one line and together form a front which is in a way the wall of a new room: the street. We experience the street as a room on its own. It is very common to westerners that streets have names.

This is very not Japanese. How so? In Japan houses are mostly fully detached. And fronts are rarely contributing to the streetscape. And indeed: streets have no name in Japan.

The top of the front facade is an important feature throughout the ages. The ornaments tell many stories.

This design by the Dutch architect Sjoerd Soeters. Shows the contemporary variety. Modern car wheels refer to the twentieth century. Built in 1991.

It is a good tradition to indicate the "year of birth" of the buliding.

In the program is a request for a bay window.

Baywindows are often found in early 20th century Amsterdam architecture. Note the little balcony on top of the bay window. The opening doors are merely a French balcony.

Very much Amsterdam like is the raised first floor. It serves both luxury and practical purposes.

The luxury part is the nicer view form the window and the majestic entrance to the house. Also the upstairs - downstairs division between masters and servants is part of it.

The practical background is the high watertable in Amsterdam. Basements are made not deeper than this as making a dry basement below the watertable is a very hard job.