Updated

Updated · Dwell · Aug 17

Bastiaan Jongerius Architecten Wraps 2,580-Square-Foot Farmhouse Into Energy-Neutral Longhouse

Updated

Updated · Dwell · Aug 17

Bastiaan Jongerius Architecten Wraps 2,580-Square-Foot Farmhouse Into Energy-Neutral Longhouse

Q: How do a concrete plinth and standing-seam roof secretly protect this stunning bio-based farmhouse from its harsh, damp environment?

They protect it by managing the two biggest threats of a low-lying Dutch rural site: persistent moisture at the base and driving rain on the roof. The concrete plinth acts as a tough, moisture-resistant buffer where the house meets the damp ground. In polder country, wet soil, splashback from rain, and repeated freeze-thaw stress can quickly damage timber and lower wall finishes. Raising the more vulnerable bio-based wall materials onto a concrete base helps prevent rising damp, reduces rot risk, and gives the house a durable edge against mud, water and everyday wear. The standing-seam metal roof protects the building envelope above by shedding water fast and limiting weak points. Its raised interlocking seams keep joints above the drainage plane, and its concealed fasteners avoid the exposed screw penetrations that often become leak paths over time. That makes the system especially suited to a long, exposed roofline in windy, rainy conditions. Together, those details quietly future-proof the farmhouse. The concrete base guards the structure where moisture pressure is highest, while the standing-seam roof provides a long-life, low-maintenance outer skin with strong weather resistance. That pairing is a practical match for a bio-based renovation: natural materials can perform well for decades, but only if the design carefully shields them from the harshest parts of the climate.

1 articles · Updated · Dwell · Aug 17

A 1970s farmhouse in Zunderdorp was preserved rather than demolished, then enclosed within a new shell to create Longhouse Farm at energy-neutral, bio-based standards.
The redesign kept the original timber roof visible and used the existing house as the project’s framework, with new voids and aligned openings creating long sightlines through the interior.
Blackened accoya wood, black standing-seam metal panels and a concrete plinth were chosen for durability in the damp Dutch polder setting while echoing regional barn architecture.
The 2,580-square-foot project draws on the area’s long, low farmhouse type and Alpine barn forms, turning a constrained renovation into a model for building around, not over, the past.

Sources

Dwell3d ago

Bastiaan Jongerius Architecten Transforms 1970s Farmhouse into Energy-Neutral Longhouse Farm

How do a concrete plinth and standing-seam roof secretly protect this stunning bio-based farmhouse from its harsh, damp environment?

Why did architects wrap a modest 1970s Dutch farmhouse in a sleek black envelope instead of simply tearing it down?

Can preserving an aging timber frame truly make a modern rural home more energy-efficient than building entirely from scratch?

Sources

1 total

Dwell3d ago

Bastiaan Jongerius Architecten Transforms 1970s Farmhouse into Energy-Neutral Longhouse Farm

Bastiaan Jongerius Architecten Wraps 2,580-Square-Foot Farmhouse Into Energy-Neutral Longhouse

Summary

Sources

Insights

Sources