Farmhouse renovation and extension: Acht5. reSET architecture.

An apple orchard is the green setting for an old farmhouse that has found new inhabitants. To adapt the existing farmhouse to the changed needs of its new residents, Theo Mathijssen from Dutch firm, reSET architecture designed not only the renovations of the country house but also the contemporary extension.



Staying true to their motto “Revive existing space” Theo Mathijssen and his reSET architecture firm seek solutions that are a kind of “reset”, in other words a new start for an existing situation.



This is also the case for the Acht5 project: renovations to an old, abandoned farmhouse in the middle of an apple orchard. This country building has been adapted to meet the needs of the new inhabitants, a new, contemporary annex has also been added.





The overall project focuses on enhancing the natural setting as an integral part of the architecture. This approach was used both for the new loft-style open space annex and for the existing farmhouse with more privacy. In both cases, the openings – large French windows for the new low, square volume and small windows for the old building – connect the interior with the orchard.



The materials used for the new volume, including the black timber cladding are a reference to the traditional facades of local farmhouses, ensuring that this new addition fits into the territory.





The combination of old and new has strengthened the existing building as part of the rural landscape; indeed, the new extension has livened it up, despite the fact that times and inhabitants have changed.

Project: reSET architecture, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands (http://www.resetarchitecture.com)
Project team: Theo Mathijssen, Pieter Bardoel 
Photography: Huub Smits