Vliervelden

A central gate forms the entrance to a farmyard, on which a cowshed and hay barn are located. On either side, three residential buildings with 21 flats are built on the left and a shop and day-care centre on the right, respectively. The continuous, varied wooden façade is crowned with red roofs in different shapes. The residents have the farmer and farmer's wife as neighbours and are surrounded by 40 hectares of farmland. The complex is inspired by pioneer barns from the United States, where people, livestock and tools had to be housed and verandas had to provide protection from wind and sun. The sturdy wooden facades with vertical accents are enclosed by openwork balustrades. The flats have very different house plans. Porches, high ceilings and voids, and all with infinite views. In doing so, the complex responds to the visual, anthroposophic design language of the stables. Regulations on living on the farmyard required mountains to be moved, as this concept is unique in the Netherlands. Strict 'odour standards' were circumvented with a special regulation. Today, Vliervelden is considered a national prototype for building housing on agricultural land, offering livestock farmers new opportunities for survival.