Brick houses Molenplein, Netherlands by Tony Fretton Architects.

Photos: Christian Richters.

Working to a masterplan designed by West 8, Tony Fretton Architects teamed-up with Dutch firm Geurst en Schultz Architecten to produce these simple, elegant houses based on an abstracted notion of the classic Dutch Canal House.

The housing is situated between two canals overlooking a Napoleonic navel yard. Fretton designed the houses with simple profiles, using white painted, or natural, rose coloured brick with white pointing. The houses designed by Geurst en Schultz Architecten contrast in their more elaborate detail. The development produces a high degree of urban cohesion.

Another interesting aspect about the designs is that they will be finished to shell and core level, allowing the occupants to customize the interiors. The locations of windows and cores allow a wide variety of interior configurations.