Modhuis

Just Have To...

2008-11-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

Just have to and gotta link you to this:

http://weburbanist.com/2008/09/09/70-amazing-houses-from-around-the-world/

I especially love the cliff-house? But how do they drive up to it?

Cube Houses in Rotterdam

2008-09-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

See also Cube Houses in Helmond post from July 15 2008.

So here we have a few photos from the "Kubuswoningen" in Rotterdam. It is really hard to choose just 3 photos. There were many fun pictures taken - but I only have so much space to show pictures. So - do a search on Internet and you can find much more interesting ones too - especially if you go to Trekearth.com. I'm not really a great photographer though - just really like art and architecture and I think it needs to be showed off - especially the Dutch architecture!

The last photo there of course, is the one inside photo I capture for you. It was the very top room - "zolder" and it was the coziest little room. Again, to get an idea what you are looking at - see the linklist and you can find more information about this home.

Inside was interesting and small. But not as small as I thought it would be. It was roomy in some areas and clausterphobic in other areas. But it would be a fun space to live in - if you are single or just two of you. It's not really a space for kids - steep stairway and such. We saw two of them for sale - I think we read that the going price is just a bit higher than other apartments in the area. The size is comparable to a small apartment. I really did like it though - I wouldn't mind living in one if I wasn't a busy mom - that and I don't really like living in crowded places - and Rotterdam is too crowded for me. Too bad.

Upside Down House

2008-09-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

This is a link to a newly built house in Germany actually. I thought it was cool so I thought I'd post it here. My Dad sent me the link and I'm actually quite fond that he's remembered that i do like modern architecture - even stuff that's totally out there and just for amusement sometimes :-) Thanks Daddio.

http://rss.news.yahoo.com/imgrss/events/lf/091108upsidedownhous

Villas

2008-09-11T10:50:00.001-07:00

Location: Grasrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven

These are what they call "villas" here in Eindhoven. They are big and modern and freestanding - not connect with the neighbors. They are mini-villas really. But they are big compared to other homes in the neighborhood - but not compared to a real villa of course. This is just a view of a row of them from the back. Later I shall post individual ones from the front. I really like these ones because the other "villas" in the neighborhood are like all the same color in a row - but these ones are all a bit different. One of my most favorites streets in Grasrijk.

Newly built in Grasrijk

2008-09-04T00:39:00.001-07:00

Location: Grasrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven

I don't have much to say about these - they are newly built - as you can see from the dirt and weeded field in front of them. Soon that field will be filled with new modern homes, too. All I can really say is that I like them. I like that they use the two color brick schemes and I just like them. Some are bigger that others and that's nice because it helps break up the "skyline" and make it not so static and boring. And I like that the window frames are a nice warm wood color and the windows are all different shapes - some longer and skinny and lying horizontal and others tall and placed just at the edge of the house.

Split Leveled Row Homes

2008-08-28T06:42:00.001-07:00

Location: Veldhoven

In this one particular part of Veldhoven - well all over Veldhoven actually - whenever there is a new home or homes being built - they are all very modern. I haven't seen any 1930's designs... but I could be wrong. Anyways, in this one part of Veldhoven - I think it's called the Polders - or just a bit north of there - near Waterwijk - they built these split level row homes. Or maybe they call them geschakkled homes - town homes to the English speakers. Anyways, they are unique because they change from color to color depending on the level - ground level, 1st, 2nd, etc. But they are boring because they are virtually all the same. But to make it interesting, these homes aren't just in a straight row - they are built on a curve. Meaning the whole row of homes curves along the street. Okay, one is also turned on it's side - see corner house below. These also have the garage half under ground - which we saw in the previous Bungalow post. These used to be some of my favorites but now after having seen so many other modern designs - they've dropped down the list for me. I still like them though - I think they look better in person - up close - if you can walk up to them and look inside peoples' windows thats always better - annoying for the people living there - but you get a better idea at the design features inside. Anyways, without further adieu - here are two more photos:

Bungalow in Yellow

2008-08-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Location: Eindhoven

I can see why some people prefer yellow for homes. This color just makes me happy. Even on a gloomy day - which is most days in Holland (but luckiy not this one) - you wake up to a cheerful color. I also like the split level thing they have going on in this design. Most bungalows that I've seen do the split level thing. With the garage half way in the ground - as you see with this one. And of course, it's important to have good landscaping with your expensive one-of-a-kind home. Now the most special thing about this design - is the window there above the door - how there is an overhang - creating shade - and giving the illusion that they just stacked some blocks up to make this home. I like that. Very cool. And especially how the window in the corner there is 3 windows next to each other all at 90 degree turns - no brick columns in between. I think that is also a common design feature in modern homes. One that I happen to like :-)

Remember - you can always click on the photo to zoom in!

White Cheddar Wedges

2008-08-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

I love describing these shapes as cheese because that's one of the things the Dutch are known for. Not exactly their Cheddar - but being American - it's the first thing that pops into my head when I think of cheese.

Location: Veldhoven

It was a very cloudy day out - but these white wedges on white clouds look quite sharp and stunning. I think this type of row house is called a geschakkled row house. It's because they are attached by the garage - not the roof.

I also like how each home is just a little bit different from their neighbor. One has a window here - the other there. It makes it so it's not so static and same and boring. That's a nice design feature - we see that a lot in the modern homes.

Curvy roof house

2008-08-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

Location: Veldhoven

This is the one of the firsts - a free standing house that I'm featuring here on modhuis. Just couldn't help myself - had to get a picture of it when I went by on my bike. It's weird - it's cool - I'd like to get inside and see how those curves are in the interior. Anyways, enjoy some photos now.

:-)

Row "boat" Houses

2008-08-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

Location: Veldhoven

I don't know but these houses make me think of big boats - from the side profile at least. Maybe more like yacht - but it think it's the slanted roofs and the color of wood. I like them anyhow - they look very big for a row house - even if they aren't.

Row Homes in Veldhoven

2008-08-07T04:57:00.000-07:00

Located: Hoekwal, Veldhoven

large - square - multi colored residential row homes - modern and nice looking.

Little Boxes

2008-07-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

My Dad sent me this link - this is what Modern Architecture & Design - and his trip to the Netherlands made him think of! It's actually pretty funny.

Corner House at the yellow bike path.

2008-07-18T05:45:00.000-07:00

Located in Grasrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven.

side view.
Front of house. As I've said before - often times the corner house of a given group of row houses is generally more unique and one-of-a-kind. I quite prefer this one. Although they've got a small yard - It's just so blocky. Like blocks stacked on top of each other. What a fun house.

Opposite the Yellow Bike Path

2008-07-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

Located in Grasrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven
Across from the Yellow bike path (see previous post):

More modern dwellings - with the facade of a red beam going across the front of the homes. Pretty cool, indeed.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road!

2008-07-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

Located in Grasrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven
along a yellow bike path:

I don't know what the purpose of a yellow bike path is. At some point it crosses over a red bike path. All the bike paths are red here so I'm not certain what the purpose of the yellow one is.

Even on a gloomy day - such as today - these yellow and red houses stand out and look oh so cheerful! Across the street we have several more similar houses - but they don't have the yellow bike path in front - just a street with some on street parking - and some large mature trees in between as well. I'll post those next.

Bay windows?

2008-07-18T05:08:00.001-07:00

Located in Grasrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven

I love these ones. Those windows are so nice. Most people just make it a spare room - I think that would make a lovely bed room. I don't think it would get to hot either because these houses all face north. I can't decide which ones I like better but I think I like the charcoal gray ones better but the light yellow brick ones are nice too.

I like how they alternate between 2-story homes and 3-story homes. The corner homes are always more unique and one-of-a-kind on any set of homes in this neighborhood it seems. Bummer thing about that corner house is it doesn't have that awesome spare room with that bay window? Or whatever it's called - I like it.

Not boring - Row houses

2008-07-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

Located in Zandrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven
along the bus lane:

Here is the back of the houses - in white - a nice contrast from that dark color at the front.

The houses in the front - not boring at all. Those windows above the door have the stairway and hallway behind it. Looks pretty cool at night when they have lights on. Also, all that light flooding the hallway probably makes it feel pretty open inside.

These ones come on the market all the time - they sell pretty fast, too.

3 story houses and bungalows connected

2008-07-17T06:24:00.001-07:00

Located in Zandrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven.

Here they alternate the dark brown 3 story houses with the white bungalows. Every other house. Again, an interesting design because it seems more spacious - instead of one tall wall of 3 story row homes - which I will picture in a later post.

The bungalows, when they come on the market for sale - seem to have trouble selling - from what I've seen. It seems that people who buy a bungalow - do not want to be squished up against a 3 story home - less privacy probably.

I like the 3 story houses though, they look like a tall wedge of cheese - wrong color though. And I like the narrow skinny windows - horizontal windows... though it doesn't seem like they would get enough light with all those bricks. They are nice looking anyways.

Cube Houses in Helmond

2008-07-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

According to wikipedia: Piet Blom (Feb 8, 1934, Amsterdam – Jun 8, 1999, Denmark) was a Dutch architect best known for his 'Kubuswoningen' (Cube houses) built in Helmond in the mid-1970s and in Rotterdam in the early 1980s. He studied at the Amsterdam Academy of Building-Arts as a student of Aldo van Eyck. [Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_Blom"]

I have pictured here the Helmond Cube House. There are many more photos available online of the kubuswoningen in Rotterdam. I plan to see those one day. I mean, I've seen them, but there is one guy that offers a tour through one of the cube homes and that's what I plan to see one day. He offers this tour for a small fee - 3 euros I think - and more information can be found on that here: http://www.kubuswoning.nl/introkubus2.html

In the Helmond Kubuswoningen - there are 3 houses attached. The entrance is through the "trunk" at the bottom. According to kubuswoning.nl there are three levels I believe. Very wild stuff here - I look forward to my future tour inside :-)

Connected homes in white

2008-07-15T01:46:00.000-07:00

Located in Zandrijk, Meerhoven, Eindhoven.
Click on image to zoom in!

Why do this blog?

2008-07-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

When most people think of the Netherlands they think of wooden shoes, tulips, windmills, bicycles, and then some people think of only Amsterdam - smoking weed, and the red light district... but something else totally unique to the Netherlands in my opinion is the modern architecture and designs of homes. It's usually only million dollar homes or public buildings like libraries and such that you see unique modern design... but in the Netherlands in the last 20 years or so they have been building a lot of very modern homes - and not just the high end price classes - but even the more affordable housing - everything is modern here now... and that is what i'd like to capture in my blog with photos and such.

You know, if you want to be an architect and design interesting modern designs - you probably have a hard time in the U.S. getting a job and doing what you want and love to do - but it's so cool that they are actually building modern homes over here - i want to capture that a bit.

I will have photos of some million dollar homes (or million euro homes) but mostly I just want to show the lower price class homes or in other words - the row houses or town houses as that may be. As most people know, the Netherlands is a small country - and with the way they set regulations - like you can only build in certain areas - most of the homes tend to be squished together. So it's really only the million euro homes that are free standing - while everthing else is connected in some way - or atleast - very close to their neighbor... but that can make things interesting in design.

Luckily, I'm living in one of those newer neighborhoods where everthing is quite new - modern and interesting - so I will have quite a lot to post in the coming months.

I will also occassionally post photos of other unique designs - buildings and such, but mainly I'm going to focus on homes.