A for-ever home: A sociable couple full of energy and optimism invited Studio Memo to fully redesign the ground floor of their 1930’s residence. The lady of the house is wheelchair bound and requires various automated systems to assist her in daily life and living. Therefore the main architectural principles for the design revolve around accessibility: both physically and visually.
Our design includes a highly accessible custom kitchen.
Automated height-adjustable countertops.
A feeling of privacy can at times come under pressure when living solely on the ground floor -level, while having an active social life with many guests stopping by, and daily personal and household assistance. We have therefore opened up the ground floor by removing a wall at the front end of the residence. This allows for two distinct zones and two routes: one of a more private nature, the other to accommodate social activities.
The large kitchen with height-adjustable countertops and specialized appliances defines a transition area between the social front-room and more private living area in the back. A guest room/ office, private bathroom and the couple’s bedroom are situated on the back, garden-side of the plan. Large skylights and the removed wall make for ample daylight entry, and automated doors open to a deck, frog pond and the garden.
The old kitchen with the backwall blocking the view to the front, street-side of the residence.
The old guestroom at the front, street-side of the residence, with the wall blocking the access of daylight into the kitchen.
Start of demolition work: removal of wall to increase access of daylight and to create a visual connection between the front of the residence and the garden.
Removal of back windows and wall, to allow for placement of double, automated garden doors.
The project required a complete overhaul of the entire ground floor: including structural elements, electrics, gas, water and plumbing. The project was successfully completed within a strict budget and, due to the mobility of the lady of the household, within a challenging seven-week timeframe.
The design includes a fully customized and highly accessible kitchen, extensive home automation for the control of lights, appliances and doors, a balanced natural ventilation system, integrated floor heating, insulated suspended ceiling, an additional window to the new guest room/ study, a fire place with automated dust filter, restored stained-glass details and a new, Victorian mosaic floor.
Entry and stairs to a first floor apartment.
Automated door to the kitchen area.
Front dining and hobby area. The wall that previously divided this space and blocked the access of natural light, has been removed.
View from the kitchen area towards the front dining/ hobby area.
The kitchen and front dining/ hobby area are defined by a mosaic floor and a recessed ceiling.
Automated stained-glass door to the hallway and a sliding door to the new guest bedroom/ study.
Guest bedroom/ study with a new window looking out on a "secret" side-garden.
View from the guest bedroom/ study towards the main living area. No doorstep was used in order to increase wheelchair accessibility. Where doorsteps are needed, they are slanted and no higher than 10 mm.
The main living area and fire place. Natural light floods in through three large skylights.
The main living area and fire place. Natural light floods in through three large skylights.
Two sets of automated double-doors open to the back garden.
Seating area around the fire place with in the back the automated sliding doors to the master bedroom.
The two sets of automated double-doors open the full width of the back of the living area to the garden. The tiled floor and wooden deck are perfectly flush.
With the two sets of automated double-doors fully opened, access to the garden is optimal. Drawing nature inside.
Project: House B2
Client: Private
Location: Heerlen, The Netherlands
Type: Residential / Renovation / ADA-accessible
Size: 300 sqm / 3,229 sqft
Status: Completed
Design: Studio Memo
General Contractor: Wilson Service & Onderhoud
Kitchen Supplier: VanPaul Keukens
Tiles and flooring: Michel Oprey & Beisterveld
Painting: Geurts Allround Schilderwerken
Finishes: Maurice Kraft Projectstoffering
Project Photography: ID Stijl / Ineke Bartholomée