REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST
RESIDENTIAL
Amsterdam
94 m2
Residential
2
The project
Reflections of the past – a loft in Amsterdam is characterized by a sharp line of contrast running through the space at 95 centimeters above the floor. Everything above this line is a new interpretation and everything below it is a reflection of the old. These concepts are conveyed through the use of contrasting materials such as exposed brick, polished concrete, wood and glass. The client’s desire was for a special private residence in Amsterdam. The goal was to create an honest, masculine and architectural space with the largest usable floor area possible. Not a standard home, no compromises. A sustainable apartment. Unique and custom made. Firm architects designed and realized a conceptual living environment from the ground up.
Space
The new elevation of the space was realized by creating a ring of rough masonry around the old base and placing the largely renewed roof beams on top of it. This principle of the space itself, a new elevation on an old base, became the starting point for the design. In the design, the entire space is visibly “cut through.” This cross-section is placed at a height of 95 centimeters above the floor. Everything above the horizontal section is new and covered with plastered and insulated walls. Sleek and finished. Everything below this line is old or a reflection of it. The walls here are bare and rough. The use of dark mirrors, unfinished zinc sheets and rough bricks creates a special composition of materials. The zinc part above the line reflects a lot of light into the space, but the reflection itself is hazy. The dark mirrors reflect less light, but give a sharp image. This makes everything above the “section” a new interpretation and everything below it a reflection of the old.
The design
The line at 95 centimeters has both a practical and a more poetic origin. It is the height of kitchen doors and handrails. And it is the central point of a man’s body. Standing with your lower body in the old and your upper body in the new, it reflects being rooted in the past and looking forward to the future. Firm architects thus places the physical user at the center of the design. The concept is therefore called “reflections of the past.” This gives the premise of the space itself an architectural translation in the design and creates a clear difference between old values and new interventions. This conceptual approach to space and its elaboration in all custom elements is characteristic of Firm architects’ work.
Materials and Sustainability
A custom-made perforated zinc staircase. It starts 95 centimeters above the floor and connects the apartment to the roof terrace. Light from the roof hatch shines through the perforations into the dark entrance below. At the top of the stairs in the living room, your gaze is directed outside through the sliding glass door, which covers the full width of the building. The profile of this frame is hidden in the walls, floor and ceiling. This creates an almost seamless glass facade in a place where originally there were only two small windows. The living room is an open bright space that can be connected to the master bedroom through a large sliding wooden wall. A television and storage space are behind 900 mm wide custom-made doors that slide smoothly to the side. A specific part of the box’s mirror lining is actually not a mirror, but reflective glass. This provides a semi-door view from the living room into the bathroom. A skylight is placed above the shower, so you can shower under an open sky. The glass facade on the south side provides natural heating. The 17 inches of floor insulation, insulated walls and externally insulated roof keep the indoor temperature stable. The ventilation it provides is important for proper temperature control. The roof hatch above the entrance on the side of the house is electric and can be opened on hot days.
