A for-ever home: A gentle, sociable couple full of energy and optimism invited Studio Memo to futureproof 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 life and living. Therefore the main architectural principles for the design revolve around accessibility: both physically and visually.
A feeling of privacy can at times come under pressure when living solely on the ground floor, 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 countertop and specialized appliances defines a transition area between the social front-room and more private living area. A guest room/ office, private bathroom and the couple’s bedroom are situated on the back, East-side of the plan. Large skylights and the removed wall make for ample daylight entry, and automated doors open to a deck and the garden.
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.
TEAM: Wilson Service & Onderhoud; Geurts Allround Schilderwerken; VanPaul Keukens; Maurice Kraft Projectstoffering; Michel Oprey & Beisterveld. Post-completion photos by ID Stijl.