The place to be

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In the Achterhoek region in the Netherlands, a remarkable ensemble of buildings has taken shape: two lodging houses and a dining hall for The Place to Be. Not as isolated structures, but built on the foundation of an old freestall barn, following its exact footprint. As such, they feel like a natural extension of the landscape — firmly rooted in the past, and open to the future.

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The project was built using materials from the immediate surroundings, with deep respect for the stories embedded in the site. The wooden trusses, for example, were made from Douglas fir trees that had to be felled just a few hundred meters away, on the Slangenburg Estate. Trees with history, now carrying a new purpose.

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The walls are insulated with straw from the Achterhoek, the roof with locally grown miscanthus, and the floor with a natural blend of hemp fiber and jute. Old denim jeans were repurposed as sound insulation, and the exterior cladding consists of circular fraké slats from reclaimed sources. Inside, the walls are finished with the same Douglas fir from the Slangenburg Estate — allowing the landscape to be felt not just outside, but indoors as well.

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This project was built with wood, straw, and plant fibers — but above all, it was built with meaning. With local materials, care, and a deep connection to place.

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