Project Overview

BD House in Bergen, The Netherlands, redefines the contemporary renovation narrative by transforming a 1950s white villa into a modern, sustainable residence. Designed by Space Encounters in collaboration with Studio Vincent Architecture, the project sets a compelling precedent for adaptive reuse and sustainable transformation. Situated amidst coastal dunes, pine woods, and open polder landscapes, this reimagined villa is both a conservation of legacy and a celebration of contemporary design principles.

The young family who commissioned the project, together with the architectural teams, opted for preservation over demolition—a conscious decision that reflects the broader European commitment to sustainability, cultural continuity, and thoughtful architectural practice.

Residential Architecture Approach

Respect for Heritage and Landscape

The BD House project exemplifies a paradigm shift in residential architecture where context-sensitive intervention takes precedence over new builds. By retaining the existing structure’s identity and working within its typological constraints, the architects created a design that both honors mid-20th-century heritage and meets 21st-century demands.

Positioned within a unique Dutch coastal ecology, the home is visually and spatially integrated into its surroundings. The enlarged floor plan opens up to the garden, emphasizing biophilic design principles and reinforcing the interaction between indoors and outdoors. This method of harmonizing architecture with nature echoes regional design philosophies seen across Scandinavia and central Europe, where the vernacular landscape often plays a starring role in residential projects.

Design Principles and Conceptual Strategies

The architectural language of BD House revolves around the interplay of geometry and spatial continuity. The new design introduces deliberate asymmetry while recalling the linear rhythms of the original structure. This dialectic reflects the work of Swedish architect Sigurd Lewerentz, especially in its sculptural brickwork and the interplay of massing and void.

A central organizing feature is the bivalent plan form, where two wings extend from a central patio—the first houses the communal living spaces, the second the private master suite. This layout generates a layered spatial experience: the interior unfolds gradually, punctuated by framed views, varied ceiling heights, and a sculptural courtyard tree that emerges through a curvilinear ceiling void—a stunning interaction between built form and natural growth.

Technical Specifications and Building Techniques

Material Palette and Structural Considerations

Central to the renovation is the mindful use of materials. The original villa is preserved with a new coat of white and anthracite mineral paint, subtly differentiating it from the modern extension, constructed with exposed natural brick. The juxtaposition of these materials becomes a visual narrative—past and present held in architectural tension.

The extension’s brick construction aligns with Northern European traditions, evoking permanence and textural richness. In contrast, the new veranda features light timber elements and expansive glazing to increase transparency and blur indoor-outdoor thresholds. Oblique-set sliding doors and windows reinforce this spatial fluidity, reflecting a growing preference in residential architecture for kinetic thresholds and flexible boundaries.

Structural Innovation and Sustainability

The technical resolution of the extension required detailed collaboration between architects and structural engineers. IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, the structural consultant, ensured the seamless merger of old and new elements, particularly around the central courtyard and the canopy-like patio roof.

Importantly, BD House is not merely a stylistic update—it is a forward-looking example of future-proof residential design. Passive solar gain, operable façades, and strategic insulation contribute to decreased energy consumption. Moreover, the architectural plan allows flexibility to accommodate evolving spatial requirements over time, enhancing the home’s longevity and adaptability.

Design Team and Collaborative Ethos

• Architecture: Space Encounters and Studio Vincent Architecture
• Interior Design: Dorien Knegt Design
• Structural Engineering: IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs
• Landscape Architecture: Delva Landscape Architecture and Urbanism
• Contractor: Cor Koper Bouwbedrijf

This multidisciplinary team allowed the project to move between scales—material textures to spatial planning, interiors to landscape—with fluid coherence. From structural decisions to planting schemes, BD House reflects a holistic attitude to residential transformation.

Contextual and Historical Analysis

The European Trend Toward Adaptive Reuse

BD House is emblematic of a larger European movement favoring renovation and adaptive reuse over demolition. Urban densification, historical value, and ecological imperatives contribute to this ethos. In countries such as the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, and Sweden, architects increasingly work with existing structures, synthesizing traditional forms with contemporary environmental standards.

International Comparisons

Globally, similar philosophies are emerging in residential projects across North America and Australia. In the Pacific Northwest, for instance, contextually driven renovations prioritize timber construction and strong outdoor-indoor relationships. Firms like Olson Kundig have embraced this transitional approach, balancing rural aesthetics with modern minimalism.

Meanwhile, in suburban Melbourne, studio transformations often involve maintaining post-war homes while integrating flexible rear extensions and highly insulated envelopes—a strategy not dissimilar to that implemented at BD House. These parallel design approaches testify to a shared architectural agenda that values sustainability, heritage, and residential well-being.

Educational Insights and Architectural Highlights

1. Central Tree and Patio as Ecological Anchor

The sculptural patio, complete with a circular ceiling aperture that accommodates a tree, serves as a focal point both spatially and symbolically. It reinforces the biophilic principle of bringing living systems into the architectural experience, a trend observed in new wellness-focused residential models worldwide.

2. Embracing Hybrid Geometries

The overall form skillfully oscillates between symmetry and asymmetry—an advanced manipulation of balance that creates compelling interior volumes. For design professionals, this reveals the value of incorporating unexpected formal transitions without sacrificing coherence or utility.

3. Honest Material Use

The interplay of raw brick with smooth wood and large panes of glass demonstrates the power of material honesty in contemporary domestic architecture. The tactility and expressiveness of these materials elevate the architectural experience for inhabitants and visitors alike.

4. Passive Performance Strategies

Beyond aesthetic considerations, BD House excels in its sustainable agenda. Future-proofing details—such as triple-glazed windows, natural cross-ventilation, optimized orientation, and robust insulation—ensure long-term energy savings and internal comfort.

5. Preserving Character, Not Just Form

This renovation minimal intervention approach affirms that historic homes can be reborn without abandoning their identity. The key takeaway for architects and homeowners alike is that restoration and modernization are not mutually exclusive.

Conclusion and Takeaways

BD House stands as a compelling case study in contemporary European residential architecture. Its success lies not only in its material refinements and compelling geometries but also in its philosophical convictions: architecture can be transformative without being erasing, innovative without being ostentatious, and responsive without being reactive.

For architects, BD House reinforces the importance of context, client collaboration, and long-term sustainability. For homeowners, it offers inspiration for upgrading existing homes in ways that elevate daily life while respecting cultural roots and environmental responsibility.

As adaptive reuse and sustainable renewal continue to gain ground across continents, BD House provides an enduring reference for integrated, future-ready residential design.

Implementation Advice:

• When considering a major residential renovation, assess how much of the original structure can be retained and reused.
• Integrate outdoor spaces into the heart of your architectural plan to enhance light, ventilation, and well-being.
• Choose natural materials with low embodied energy for longer-lasting, environmentally friendly finishes.
• Balance form and function by introducing playful geometries that still support spatial efficiency.
• Work closely with a multidisciplinary team—from structural engineers to landscape architects—to ensure holistic success.