Hakwood flooring featured in residential refurbishment by Tjerk Boom of SeARCH

The owners of this century-old Dutch farmhouse asked SeARCH architect Tjerk Boom to take the dilapidated structure and turn it into a home for modern country living. Boom specified Hakwood Original for the flooring and wall coverings within the traditional ‘glass bell’ farm house. He transformed the structure into an expanded, bolder, contemporary version of its former self.

Boom explains: “We designed every space with 1.80 meters – plank size – as our base unit, looking to create a perfect rhythm and interplay of lines. That’s easy enough on the drawing board, but very difficult to get right in practice. The dimensional stability of the Hakwood planks played a vital part in getting it just right.”  

The wood flooring, panelling, and ceiling beams create a uniquely contemporary take on the country barn aesthetic, warm in tone and rich in texture. The Hakwood Original Duoplank is a combination of an oak top layer with a plywood backer, making for a very stable product- ideal for working to such precise specifications within this project.

Boom explains: “The owners wanted to retain the original shape, including the lay-out of the rooms, but with a bigger living space. In close cooperation with them we decided to lift all four sides of the roof to a less-steep angle and then move the walls further out. Finally, we added an ultra-modern extension at the back, with huge glass panels and concrete floors.”

The contrast between old and new in this residential project was used to maximum effect, adds Boom:

“When you enter the house at the front, it’s very cosy and traditional, with lots of wood, low ceilings and small windows. Then it really opens up at the back, where the living room and kitchen are. Thanks to the 4.5 meter glass panels, these areas are light and airy with stunning views of the surrounding polders.”