Iris Zoon

De deur op een kier

The half-open door

Living with due consideration for others   

De deur op een kier (the half-open door) is a project about living with due consideration for others. It emphasises a way of living together in which sharing is the main focus. The home is the ideal environment that creates opportunities for connection. This project has led to the design of a new type of flexible home in which the user's experience and freedom of choice are the key elements.

The 17-th century paintings of Pieter de Hooch were an important source of inspiration. His interiors are a joy to behold. The rooms are richly decorated with patterned tiled floors, colourful walls adorned with artwork and views of courtyards, gardens and streets. The paintings are often so multlayered that it makes me feel like there is a lot to discover. You never get tired of looking at them.

I observed his city, its courtyards and vistas. It inspired me to design this residential building. Like the characters in the painting, the users of this building are the primary focus. They can feel at home and be amazed in this building.

The home has a core of permanent functions: bathroom, kitchen, box bed. It is an object in the house that makes a clear division between private and collective. The core is the central element around which and with which the resident can move freely. Residents move by opening, closing or partially opening shutters and panels as desired.

After the house was built, shared spaces were added and the ensemble was shaped until it blended naturally into its surroundings. This ultimately resulted in the construction of three residential blocks in Hoorn. A walking route has been created between the blocks for local residents. Each block opens onto the communal courtyard and has a front garden facing the courtyard. In terms of materialisation and facade details, the building relates to the Hoorn context without being traditional.

Graduation Date: 3 February 2025 
Graduation committee: Judith Korpershoek (mentor), Vincent Kompier, Maarten Vermeulen
Additional members for the exam: Elsbeth Falk, Jochem Homminga