Wenslauer House, Amsterdam
This new-build house replaced a dilapidated workers cottage from the turn of the twentieth century. Originally a street of trademen’s workshops (with homes above) the street has a very irregular character.
The simple materials and sparse character of the facade retains the modest industrial character of the street whilst providing the three-storey townhouse required by the brief. Internally this clean, simple aesthetic continues with a subtle palette of concrete and white walls with exposed timber structure. A three storey void through the house combined with joinery elements that frame and obscure views, creates the sense of a deep threshold as you move into the house and then look back – the resultant effect is akin to paintings of domestic architecture from the 17th century – the concrete floored hall and lightwell feels like a small external alleyway and courtyard.
Wenslauer House has been featured in Dezeen, Dwell and Blueprint.
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/31_1250_W59-002-StreetFacade_WebRes.jpg)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/WEB-01-Site-Plan.png)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/31_1250_W59-005-Entrance_WebRes-with-de-hooch-2.png)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/31_1250_W59-000-Original-Building_WebRes.jpg)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/WEB-08-LONG-SECTION-1.png)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/31_1250_W59-013-SecondFloor_WebRes-1.jpg)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/31_1250_W59-015-Bedroom_WebRes.jpg)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/31_1250_W59-009-Kitchen_WebRes_de-hooch-1.png)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/WEB-05-GROUND-FIRST-SECOND-2.png)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/31_1250_W59-008-Living2_1950.jpg)
![](https://www.3144architects.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/31_1250_W59-002-StreetFacade_WebRes.jpg)
This new-build house replaced a dilapidated workers cottage from the turn of the twentieth century. Originally a street of trademen’s workshops (with homes above) the street has a very irregular character.
The simple materials and sparse character of the facade retains the modest industrial character of the street whilst providing the three-storey townhouse required by the brief. Internally this clean, simple aesthetic continues with a subtle palette of concrete and white walls with exposed timber structure. A three storey void through the house combined with joinery elements that frame and obscure views, creates the sense of a deep threshold as you move into the house and then look back – the resultant effect is akin to paintings of domestic architecture from the 17th century – the concrete floored hall and lightwell feels like a small external alleyway and courtyard.
Wenslauer House has been featured in Dezeen, Dwell and Blueprint.