WHAT WAS ONCE AN OLD car park building in the centre
of Amsterdam has been transformed into a unique home for
designer Irene Mdesigner Irene Mertens, 41, her husband Gabriel, 43, and ertens, 41, her husband Gabriel, 43, and
daughter Juul, two. The owner of stylish homdaughter Juul, two. The owner of stylish homewares store ewares store
Sukha AmSukha Amsterdamsterdam has turned an old and decrepit garage has turned an old and decrepit garage
into a light, sustainable and spacious house.into a light, sustainable and spacious house.
“I love how open this house is,” says Irene. “W“I love how open this house is,” says Irene. “When Juul hen Juul
is taking a bath and I amis taking a bath and I am busy in the kitchen, I can still talk busy in the kitchen, I can still talk
to her through the old wooden window between us.”to her through the old wooden window between us.”
Open areas are a key elemOpen areas are a key element throughout the house. All ent throughout the house. All
the roomthe rooms are visible to each other. “Ws are visible to each other. “We wanted to be able e wanted to be able
to see the trees in the backyard and the water in the canal to see the trees in the backyard and the water in the canal
outside fromoutside from the inside. W the inside. When I amhen I am working in m working in my studio y studio
in the front of the house, I can keep an eye on Juul playing in the front of the house, I can keep an eye on Juul playing
somsomewhere else. And when I take a bath in the evenings, ewhere else. And when I take a bath in the evenings,
I can see the stars through the skylight above mI can see the stars through the skylight above me. There are e. There are
also areas for privacy, such as in the wooden teepee filled also areas for privacy, such as in the wooden teepee filled
with cushions or the roomwith cushions or the room for our bed. There’s enough for our bed. There’s enough
space for everyone to sleep, mspace for everyone to sleep, meditate, work, play or read.”editate, work, play or read.”
Irene and Gabriel already owned a house in AmIrene and Gabriel already owned a house in Amsterdamsterdam
but the fambut the family wanted a mily wanted a more open-plan homore open-plan home where they e where they
could live and work. Although the old garage mcould live and work. Although the old garage met their et their
requiremrequirements, it wasn’t love at first sight.ents, it wasn’t love at first sight.
“Anim“Animals had been living in the building and there als had been living in the building and there
were holes in the walls and roof. Yet Gabriel saw that were holes in the walls and roof. Yet Gabriel saw that
the building had potential. Wthe building had potential. We wanted an ecologically e wanted an ecologically
built house and to use natural mbuilt house and to use natural materials, including aterials, including
mmud for insulation,” explains Irene.ud for insulation,” explains Irene.
Over two years, with the help of an architect as well as Over two years, with the help of an architect as well as
a building biologist who ma building biologist who monitored the health of the homonitored the health of the home’s e’s
environmenvironment, the broken-down garage was transforment, the broken-down garage was transformed ed
into a large open hominto a large open home with two skylights and a new roof.e with two skylights and a new roof.
One of the biggest surprises during the renovation One of the biggest surprises during the renovation
was when wooden beamwas when wooden beams appeared after the old concrete s appeared after the old concrete
ceiling was remceiling was removed. “Woved. “We restored all the beame restored all the beams; it was s; it was
a huge job but the ceiling really has becoma huge job but the ceiling really has become eye-catching. e eye-catching.
In the living roomIn the living room you can still see the iron beam you can still see the iron beams froms from
the building’s previous incarnation. >the building’s previous incarnation. >NOVEMNOVEMBER 2017 BER 2017 CCOOUUNNTTRYRY S T S TYYL EL E 5 3 5 3