A deteriorated farmhouse in the vicinity of the castle De Haar was demolished and replaced by a new one. The context of the rural surroundings and the dominant roof shape of the old farmhouse were the ingredients for the design concept of the new farmhouse. The new house has its own strong characteristics and refers to the ‘old’ only at an abstract level and can be appreciated as a ‘sculpture in the landscape’. To emphasize the idea of a sculpture the number of materials used was minimized to what is necessary ; roofs and walls are covered with natural slate. In a natural way the unconventional shape of the house adapts itself to the site. From within there is a strong relation with the surroundings.