Archipel townhouse
2019 | The Hague, The Netherlands
Take a tired 19th century, ex-rental property and reinstate it into the beautiful monumental town house it was meant to be; this was our brief. Architecturally in original state, this Neo-Renaissance property is situated in one of The Hague’s oldest and most desirable neighborhoods. We collaborated closely with the municipality for planning permission, finding the balance between creating a functional, modern home for a family and being mindful of the protected (listed) architecture.
As with so many projects, the scope went from ‘cosmetic upgrades’ to a full renovation over the space of a few early briefing meetings with our Australian expat clients. Our vision of creating an elegant but comfortable family home took on a life of its own when it was decided to custom make almost every large furniture piece; from the timeless kitchen to the headboard and walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom, each detail has been meticulously thought about and designed with both form and function in mind.
Conceptually we wanted to keep the space free from ‘visual stress’ and we embarked on a journey to use materiality and tactility to create unique detailing which is not always noticed at first but can often be felt before it is seen. The kitchen is a beautiful example of this with the marble ‘live edge’ shelving, handmade walnut handles and brass details in the breakfast bar. The coffee station further removes clutter by hiding most of the kitchen equipment.
Throughout the property a consistent sense of elegance and luxury can be felt without being fussy and intimidating. This is perhaps the greatest achievement of all.
