A Gap in the Dike
A Gap in the Dike is a project by Broekhof Schuit Architecten in Amsterdam. Typology: Renovation and extension. Status: Built. Photography: Jordi Huisman.
Small shifts in section turn a narrow dike house into a generous family home.
Two low floors become usable by shifting levels and adding a single-storey extension. A flipped staircase forms the colourful centre of the void, while the basement kitchen extends into a new dining room with framed views of the garden and polder.
Four floors made useful
The narrow 1950s row house stands on the old Kadoelenweg dike. Lowering the attic floor creates a children's room above and enough height for bedrooms, bathroom and a master suite with a freestanding bath overlooking the polder.
A colourful centre
Flipping the ground-floor stair creates the centrepiece of a new void. Beside it, a slightly raised mezzanine becomes a sheltered reading place with landscape views. Air and daylight now reach the former basement living level.
Kitchen at polder level
The dark dike side of the basement holds installations and a television room. The kitchen extends into the new dining area, where a deep room-wide frame with structural slats balances privacy, shade and long views into garden and polder.
Project team
- Visuals
- Broekhof Schuit Architecten
- Photography
- Jordi Huisman
- Structural engineer
- De Ingenieursgroep
Photography by Jordi Huisman View source project