The Friesland Brick House was designed as a typical 1960’s farm workers house following strict guidelines on how the building was intended to be used and built in a basic regional manner. The house consists of two separate buildings – a residential house and a small stable building. In a most detailed building description not only the used materials were meticulously listed but also the intended purpose of the stable was enumerated: a stable for one cow, two pigs and four chickens to self-provide.

This project is characterised by three very dominant factors. Firstly, the way this house was designed to fulfill the highest possible common denominator of living requirements since this house is one of many in Friesland, each following the same set of (building) rules and only varying in detail. Secondly, is was intended for a way of life marked by hard farm work and dire conditions. Thus, the focus of the building was merely practical. Lastly, maybe the most outstanding factor from today’s perspective: the setting right at the coast with nothing but vast farmland and meadows guarding the house from the rough climate conditions of the North Sea.

The new way this house was to be used could not have been further removed from its original purpose for it should become a cosy sanctuary to recharge the batteries and get a break from a hectic city life. But instead of letting this 180 degree turn of living atmospheres be manifested in radical architectural interventions the approach chosen was to preserve a humble and contextually fitting exterior and emphasise the extraordinary regional craftsmanship of this – only at first glance – basic house. Especially the delicate work on the verge of the roof is a great example for a restrained design approach that can only be detected at second glance but will leave a long-lasting impression. Following this principle, the house is set humbly into the surrounding landscape making it impossible to know where the premises end and nature begins and allowing for breathtaking views on the dyke.

The structure of this house was originally designed to fulfill the highest possible common denominator of living requirements and this also applies for the present day. Unnecessary transformations even would have had a disfiguring effect and alienated the house from its surrounding and local building culture. Only few adjustments in the floor plan had to be made to bring the house to the present and give it a extravagant, yet fittingly simple and practical quality. This project breathes the mantra of: as little as possible, as much as necessary.

With the Friesland Brickhouse Nidus found a true hidden gem. This petite and thus far, plain, a little neglected farmer's house turned out to be an absolute treasure chest. It is precisely its unpretentious and straight forward design and petiteness that makes this cosy house feel out of this world and special. What could have matched this project better than a true little treasure chest?

Check out the little treasure chest