House of In-Betweens

House of In-Betweens explores the areas often overlooked in conventional design, focusing on transitional spaces and reimagine them as social and dynamic zones that are just as important. In this way, House of In-Betweens is our quiet tribute to the work of Herman Hertzberger.

The house was first conceived as a collection of smaller individual blocks, with each part reflecting the scale of its use. The blocks are then arranged to enhance the in-between spaces to increase flexibility and interaction, all whilst ensuring that the whole is being articulated as a collection of parts. The resulting architecture is very much volumetrically-driven.

Inside, conventional and rigid zoning are avoided, instead, spaces are designed with varying levels of privacy and interaction with an architecture that promotes gradual transitions from public, to semi-private, and to private areas.

User engagement and user participation is encouraged in the in-between spaces, allowing inhabitants to modify and personalize their environment, and accommodating evolving functions over time. Elements for pause are integrated into these transitory spaces - tables, ledges, steps, edges - to encourage spontaneous use. By elevating the in-between, flexible sequences are created, eliminating the hard divisions between areas with different territorial claims.

With emphasis on honesty in structure and form, the intention here is to create dramatic yet cosy and homely spaces for the delight of its inhabitants.