Barn house I, Cothen
“This project offers a simple yet innovative design which enables a flow of movement through the home and a sense of connectedness to the surrounding nature”
- B2A Founding Partner, Louise Bjørk
Siteplan
Project: Housing / Masterplan
Client: Private
Location: Cothen
Year: 2021-ongoing
Size masterplan: 7750m2 (woonerf)
Size new build homes: 210m2
Project phases: Masterplan, SO, VO and DO (building permission)
Facade (south)
Ground floor +00
First floor +01
Short section, living room / lounge
Facade (east)
Long section, living room / lounge - kitchen / dining area / entry / garage
Description
The Schuur is a 210 m² dwelling set within the agricultural landscape of Cothen, where orchards and open fields define the site’s rural character. Developed as part of a masterplan by B2A Architects, the project forms a cohesive ensemble with an existing farmhouse and a new ancillary volume, reshaping the site through restoration, addition, and a recalibration of its spatial and landscape structure.
Conceived as a singular, legible volume, the house is defined by a generous roof set upon a Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) structure. The ground floor is partially recessed, accommodating the main living spaces—an open kitchen, dining area, and sunken living room. Above, the upper level contains the sleeping quarters, comprising a master bedroom, three additional rooms, and shared bathroom facilities.
The organization is articulated as a continuous section, where functions shift gradually from private to communal. Movement descends from the bedrooms through the dining space to the lowered living area, which establishes a direct and immersive relationship with the surrounding landscape through full-height glazing.
Materially, the building draws from the language of local agricultural structures. A muted zinc roof contrasts subtly with the adjacent farmhouse, while façades in dark clay tiles evoke the typology of the barn. Large sliding panels reinterpret traditional barn doors, enabling the house to open fully to its environment. Slender aluminum frames and expansive glazing further dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior.
Sustainability is embedded in the project’s construction and performance. The CLT structure provides a low-carbon, prefabricated system, complemented by high-performance insulation, triple glazing, photovoltaic panels, and a heat pump, reducing both operational and embodied energy.
Visualisations by Render-lab, Berlin