Dutch studio i29 and construction company Jatin Chaletbouw have completed Lounge Lodge, a compact holiday home in the Netherlands, revealed here in this Dezeen Exclusive.
Located in the RCN Noordster holiday park in Dwingeloo, the 20-square-metre holiday lodge sits surrounded by trees, into which its pale green-painted timber exterior is designed to blend.
Lounge Lodge was created by Jatin Chaletbouw and i29 partner Chris Collaris to show how a distinctive retreat could be made without “crazy budgets”.
i29 has designed a compact holiday home in the Netherlands
“We are used to designer villas with crazy budgets, but what if it comes down to the essence of a retreat?” Collaris told Dezeen.
“Is it possible to make a distinctive concept for a modest retreat, guided by the idea of smart affordability and the power of simplicity?” Collaris added.
Lounge Lodge comprises a small cabin and a sheltered external terrace, raised on a low timber platform accessed via a wooden staircase.
Green-painted timber was chosen to blend the cabin into its context
Inside, the lodge is divided into two halves.
One contains a living, dining and kitchen space overlooking the forest through sliding glass doors, while the other holds a bedroom and bathroom.
The interior is divided into two halves
A small staircase leads up to a mezzanine level with further sleeping space, bringing the cabin’s maximum occupancy to four people.
Built-in cabinets, a folding dining table and sliding doors help to keep the space streamlined and introduce flexibility.
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“The retreat functions as a Swiss army knife. It is very little and compact, but there is everything you need,” Collaris said.
“Social spaces like the kitchen and living are small and blend together, but feel bigger because of the direct connection with the outside,” he continued. “You can still experience two partly separated sleeping areas and a bathroom, but these places also work together as a lofty space when needed.”
The cabin offers “direct connection with the outside”
Lounge Lodge’s interior is lined in poplar plywood, which has been stained green for the kitchen and lower sleeping areas to match the pale green spruce exterior.
The ceiling and walls of the mezzanine level have been finished in white to help create a feeling of spaciousness, aided by a small, high-level window overlooking the forest.
On the exterior, vertical battens were introduced to add “deepness and character” to the facades, Collaris said, and to create changing shadows across them throughout the day.
Green-stained poplar lines the interiors
Before becoming a partner at i29, Collaris’ own firm, Chris Collaris Architects, frequently collaborated with the studio, with projects including the black timber-clad Tiny Holiday Home near Amsterdam.
Other recent projects in the Netherlands by i29 include the black-timber Senior Shelter, designed for an elderly couple, and Buitenverblijf Nest, a “folly high up in the trees” that references birdhouses and nests.
The photography is by Ewout Huibers.