A 50-year Old House Remodeled Into A Contemporary And Sustainable Home

We’ve seen many old structures transformed into modern spaces yet none of them was designed so much care and preparation as Villa RR. this is a house that was originally built in 1967 and which got a complete remodel in 2017. Two memorable projects, 50 years apart. Planning the new design took architect Theo Reitsema and interior designer Stephanie Weitering of Reitsema and Partners a whole year and the reason for that is pretty special. The couple and their two young children moved into the old house and lived there for an entire year, a period during which they tried to understand the home and to explore the possibilities regarding its transformation into a contemporary and also sustainable house.

The new design of the house is simple and well-balanced in every sense
The new design of the house is simple and well-balanced in every sense
The house is organized into two sections, one facing East and the other one facing West
The house is organized into two sections, one facing East and the other one facing West

By living in the house for a whole year, the designers were able to experience all four seasons and to come up with a detailed and customized plan regarding the transformation of every space. They decided to make the most out of the house’s location: in the middle of the forest, on a hilltop in the region of Rijssen, The Netherlands. They watched the forest come to life in spring, the greenery taking over in summer, the beautiful foliage in autumn and the snow slowly covering the trees in winter. This inspired them to focus a lot on the views.

The two sections meet at the center and the front door and the entryway serve as a buffer between them
The two sections meet at the center and the front door and the entryway serve as a buffer between them
The new facade of the house is neutral in color and simple in design, allowing the focus to be on a landscape
The new facade of the house is neutral in color and simple in design, allowing the focus to be on a landscape

The house has no need for air-conditioning systems or sun protection and the reason for that is its well-balanced and well-structured interior. There are basically two main sections. The East-facing half of the house is mostly closed and featuring dark stucco walls and a two-storey structure. The West-facing half is fully opened to the surroundings and has full-height windows that let in the light and the views as well as a single floor.

The Western half of the house is very open, featuring these huge windows and glass doors that let the outdoors in
The Western half of the house is very open, featuring these huge windows and glass doors that let the outdoors in
The west-facing half of the house contains the social areas and takes full advantage of the views and the location
The west-facing half of the house contains the social areas and takes full advantage of the views and the location

The two sections meet at the center, where the front door acts as a buffer between them. A set of terraced stairs traverse the garden and offer a path to the house. This is also the point where the transition from one floor to a two-level structure is made. To the East, you have the home office and a two-cat garage situated on the lower level and the bedrooms above them and to the West there’s a single-storey volume which houses the social spaces. A concrete deck ensures a smooth transition between the interior living spaces and the garden. It can be accessed through bi-fold glass doors.

The living spaces are fully opened to the landscape and have large doors that connect them to a concrete deck
The living spaces are fully opened to the landscape and have large doors that connect them to a concrete deck
The transition between the interior spaces and the garden is smooth and seamless thanks to the terrace
The transition between the interior spaces and the garden is smooth and seamless thanks to the terrace
The house gradually becomes closed towards the East, where the private spaces are situated
The house gradually becomes closed towards the East, where the private spaces are situated

A lot of though also went into making the house energy-neutral as well as comfortable for another 50 years. It has a heat-recovery system, triple glazing, high-quality insulation, LED light fixtures throughout as well as energy-efficient appliances.

The views of the forest are maximized by the full-height windows and the minimalist interior decor
The views of the forest are maximized by the full-height windows and the minimalist interior decor
One of the main priorities was making the house comfortable and the fireplace help with that
One of the main priorities was making the house comfortable and the fireplace help with that