The Blacksmith House

Utrecht, Netherlands

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The Blacksmith House

Utrecht, Netherlands

Firm

j2o Architectuur

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2018

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

Undisclosed

When an old blacksmith retired he sold the house his grandfather rebuild to a young couple. They
transformed his workshop with blackened oaken beams dating back to 1650 and massively thick
walls into a modern living area. By lowering the floor of the living room and raising its roof this area
become very spacious and is visually separated from the kitchen and dining area. It also creates room
for an enormous glass front which, together with (walkable) roof lights, flood the ground floor with
daylight. A wood clad canopy has an obliq angle which enables it to naturally controls the direct
sunlight and to protect one entering from the rain. Slim steel doors separate the playroom at the
front where a wood clad wall incorporates doors to entrance, restroom and stairs to the second
floor.
On the second floor the master bedroom is connected to the study room by the original ensuite
doors. Doors open onto the roof light and balcony with views over the sedum roof of the living room
and the deep garden. The former kitchen became the bathroom, the original opening between
kitchen and dining room remains. Two children’s rooms on the third floor share a new bathroom in
the middle. The old roof trusses are dictate and characterize the space.
A full heat pump, located in the backyard and clad similar to the canopy, warms the house and
enabled disconnection from gas. Every floor, even the wooden floors on second‐ and third floor, have
underfloor heating. A solar boiler adds extra hot water. Solar panels generate electricity. The
blacksmith workshop and house start a new life with references in the details to previous lives and
functions.