Residence Ter Borchlaan Groningen

In the Drents-Gronings lake-area, on the crossroad between land and city, a new urban area appears, Ter Borch. Part of this is the green lane between Groningen and Eelde, trapped between the ancient watervalley Eelderdiep, national park Peizer- and Eeldermaden and the Piccardhofplas. Alongside this green ribbon small old farmhouses were build, between them the beautiful green open peat-landscape was visible. These areas will now be partly filled with new residences.
This project is one of these new residences, somewhat hidden behind an existing residence, beside the reedborders of the Piccardhofplas. We wanted to let the characteristic rural environment adopt the residence. That’s why the appearance is like a barn covered with reed. The facades are mostly cladded with untreated wooden panels. The main plan is a rectangular with a large livingroom and kitchen with upstairs the bedrooms. The main entrance with bikestorage and the back entrance with garage are shapes ‘pushed’ out of the volume where the reed-roof is extruded. This way the roof becomes more dominant and emphasizes with the surrounding landscape.
The Residence is east-west orientated, respectively Ter Borghlaan and the Piccardhofplas, with on both sides front-facades with large windows from ground level to the top roofridge. Behind these windows voids make the living light and more open. The interior is sleek and modern in contrast with the rural landscape. The golden reed and the red-cedar parts have the same appearance. Both materials will turn grey over the years and blend in with the nature. The goal is to respect the view from the Ter Borchlaan to the rural landscape, to maintain the character of the lane.

Ordering party: Family Steen
Location: ter Borchlaan, Groningen-Eelde
Realization: 2009
Photography: Peter van der Knoop