‘v-house’ by gaaga, leiden, netherlands image © marcel van der burg

dutch architecture practice gaaga has completed ‘v-house’, a single family residence located in leiden, netherlands. sited within the previously industrial urban center, this currently high density urban planning zone of ‘nieuw leyden’ encourages individual plot owners to implement their own home. an iconic v-shaped roof pitches downward at asymmetrical angles from the adjacent homes. covering the habitable nine by ten meter footprint, the central valley directs all water runoff towards the bordering six by ten meter garden.

gaaga: v house entrance facade image © marcel van der burg

the ambiguous white stucco facade contains a series of glass windows and doors which blurs the home’s interior organization from the exterior. upon entering, the spatial layout is revealed with unobstructed views of the wooden ceiling and steps leading to the upper level. a formal sitting room, bedrooms and bathroom are found on the ground floor within a three meter wide strip parallel to the staircase. the lofted kitchen, living and dining areas are configured into an L-shaped arrangement leaving a void for a double story vertical volume. the ceiling inclines towards the home’s central spine, a free-standing bearing wall which supports a series of wood beams forming the roof structure. large skylights introduce daylight into the public spaces while large picture windows provide views of the garden and sky.

gaaga: v house ground level entry image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house upward view from ground level image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house stairs image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house (left) upper level living space (right) living space images © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house stairs divide living area and kitchen image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house roof spine is supported by central interior wall image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house kitchen image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house overlook from kitchen image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house view of kitchen and living space from overlook image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house (left) view of kitchen and lower level from overlook (right) large picture window facing the backyard images © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house entry facade at dusk image © marcel van der burg

gaaga: v house floor plan / level 0 image courtesy of gaaga

gaaga: v house floor plan / level 1 image courtesy of gaaga

gaaga: v house section image courtesy of gaaga

gaaga: v house transverse section image courtesy of gaaga

gaaga: v house elevation image courtesy of gaaga

gaaga: v house elevation image courtesy of gaaga

gaaga: v house axonometric image courtesy of gaaga

project info:

architects: gaaga team: esther stevelink and arie bergsma location: leiden, the netherlands client: private realisation: 2008 – 2010 contractor: verbeij bouw, boskoop. structural engineering: imd, rotterdam energy performance & building physics: gaaga – arie bergsma