Periscope Houses by Joke Vos, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Joke Vos architecten is an architectural firm, based in Rotterdam / the Netherlands. Their main objective is to realize interesting buildings in a pleasant urban context wherein people like to live and work. Their assignments vary from private housing to projects with multiple programs. The firm also has a reputation in urban design, often in complex situations and as an upstart to the architectural job. One of their most characteristic samples of work is the Periscope Houses projects, in Rotterdam.

The concept evolved within an exclusive competition asking for the design of twelve large water residences. The houses were to be expressive and appealing, yet allow for a high standard of living. The project should mark the Waterwijk in Rotterdam/ Nesselande, an area where all other housing was built without aesthetic regulations. The Periscope Houses show a remarkably compact (a prerequisite in the densely populated Netherlands) and expressive design and are surrounded by water on three sides.

The complex is made up of smaller clusters of houses. Within each cluster, three residences are brought together to form a solid three level centre. Soft shining volumes slice through this cube. Like periscopes the houses look in different directions, thereby ensuring the privacy of the individual balconies.
The living areas are distributed among the ground and first floor, each with a terrace bordering the sunny waterside. The large water room on the ground floor adjoins a spacious wooden terrace with reed and yellow flag all around.

On a second lower platform small boats can moor and children can work on their fishing skills.
Arranged within a zoning of wider and smaller naves the floor plans slide into each other like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, allowing for many different subdivisions. The houses evidently belong to the same family, yet show characteristic differences in i.e. the situation of the entrance, the width of the loggia and the form of the aluminium volumes.

The materials applied are durable and low in maintenance. For the main volume a solid dark metallic brick is used. Light and elegant aluminium panels enclose the periscopes. In contrast a warm hardwood is used where the interior extends into the exterior. Apart from the choice in materials and the flexible floor plans sustainability is further sought in extra isolation and energy saving mechanisms, like the wooden slats used to shelter the houses from the sun.