Along the beach of Vrouwenpolder, 25 beach houses have “washed ashore”—at least, that was the vision of WTS Architecten. The mirrored houses, combined with untreated Platowood Fraké, give the impression of being shaped by the elements. These are unique homes not only in appearance but also in functionality, with floor plans that integrate both the sea side and the dune side—with its swaying marram grass—into the living experience.
”These houses stand out for their quality. Untreated Platowood Fraké weathers naturally and perfectly fits the vision we aimed to achieve. The cladding was meticulously applied in the factory, taking details such as water exposure at the joints into account.
Initially, we wanted to work with full-length boards. However, that leads to cutting waste. Starting from a sustainability perspective and efficient material use, we chose shorter lengths, which ultimately became a design tool to refine the façade surface. The wood appears more vibrant, and the pattern adds flexibility. Platowood wood is a true eye-catcher—something we often hear from others as well.”
WTS Architecten wanted to avoid a wall-like repetition of beach houses. The concept began with a single house type featuring a diagonally placed roof ridge, running from the front-left to the back-right. This design was then mirrored, breaking the repetition and creating visual variation. The ridges were extended outward from the façades, naturally expanding the panorama and enhancing the sense of space.
The entire project was produced in 3D and constructed by DWPrefab and Dekker en Walhout.
