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A collaboration between Flip Wentink Architecten and interior architect Julia van Beuningen, the 19th-century barn is part of a wider restoration of buildings on the site

In a country as famously flat as The Netherlands, buildings can be seen from some distance away, so it stands to reason that architects would like to create a home that is not only functional but also easy on the eye. That is the case with this renovated barn in the central town of Barneveld, known for its poultry farming.

 

 

A collaboration between Flip Wentink Architecten and interior architect Julia van Beuningen, the 19th-century barn is part of a wider restoration of buildings on the site, and it strikes the eye with its thatched roof covering a massive area and the red-brick walls with large glass windows and double doors.

 

 

Inside, the building uses wood as its primary material, with a mixture of newer additions interspersed with the old beams of the original construction. The difference in colour between the light, newer additions beside the darker hues of the original beams provides a note of contrast throughout.

 

 

The showstopper is the circular staircase, designed by van Beuningen in collaboration with the Barneveld-based company EeStairs, a bespoke staircase manufacturer that has worked with everyone from Frank Gehry to Canada’s own Superkul. The primary material is plywood, a common material on farms and industrial settings that nods to the building’s previous life and furthermore echoes the overall design statement of the renovation: simplicity of material and form.

 

The upper floor was added during the redesign, and the circular staircase invites guests up to explore the rafters of the barn. With no central pillar, the stairs almost hang from the upper floor, and the consistent wooden tones blend the whole structure together.

 

 

Sustainability was a major aim in the construction, and EeStairs used less polluting adhesives and finishes, as well as FSC-certified timber, to limit the carbon footprint of its wooden staircases. Despite a renovation that keeps traditional materials at the front of mind, the home produces as much energy as it uses.

May 2, 2026