Serge Schoemaker Architects has transformed and extended the attic of this charming Dutch house of the twenties in a radical way. The upper part of the roof construction was completely dismantled and the original rafters were replaced by laminated wood portal frames. The result is a bright, high and spacious attic.

courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

Dating from the early twentieth century this semi-detached house is located in a picturesque street in the center of Bussum in the Netherlands. The house has a gambrel roof; a two-sided roof with two slopes on each side. The ‘Dutch Gambrel’ was often used on Dutch colonial houses.

The roof construction usually provides the disadvantage of a low attic, which makes the attic impossible to use for anything other than storage. The owners of this house in Bussum wished to improve and extend the roof construction in order to create more space for their growing family.

courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

Confronted with strict local building regulations, the practice proposed to extend the roof without changing the outside appearance of the house: the upper slope, positioned at a shallow angle, was replaced by a steeper one with more height.

The ridge was raised by one metre and rebuilt with two ridge beams and a full length rooflight in between. All windows in the six and a half meter long rooflight can be opened to ventilate. During summer days the open roof windows will create a pleasant inner climate and allow hot air to escape the house.

courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

With the conversion the attic has become the largest and brightest space in the house, at the same time offering a lot of privacy, The attic floor will now function as master bedroom. During clear nights the stars will be visible through the rooflight, in the course of the day a continuous change of light will evolve by the incoming daylight.

+ Project facts

Location: Bussum, Netherlands
Program: Residential
Area: 120 m2
Year: 2011-2012
Consultant: Jaap Aalberts (construction)
Photographs: Raoul Kramer (image 03,04), Irene Kievit (05)

+ All images and drawings courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects