A Shadowy 17th-Century Canal House Shines After a Daring Renovation

In the process of relocating to Amsterdam after 30 years in Paris, a couple found an untouched 1675 canal house with views of the Reguliersgracht waterway. "The Utrechtsestraat has the best local veg shop, cheesemonger, and bakery you can imagine," says one of the owners, who also loves visiting the "tiny but wonderful flower market on the nearby Amstelveld every Monday."

But buying—and then renovating—in the coveted neighborhood presented challenges. "The municipality was very involved in the restoration," says the team at i29. For example, the very steep and narrow main staircase had to be preserved, even though the firm says it "did not even come close" to meeting current building regulations. 

The firm embraced the challenge by retaining the rijksmonument’s historical features—including the original interior layout—while introducing contemporary updates. 

Amsterdam’s canal houses are famously narrow and deep, and they tend to be dark—so i29 focused on bringing as much daylight into the home as possible. Using the original split-level structure to their advantage, the team created what they call "see-through effects" that visually connect the spaces as much as possible. 

"We never really cut off spaces," says i29. Instead, they utilized bolts of rich color and unexpected materials to differentiate various areas. The largest spaces—the kitchen and dining area on the ground floor, the sitting room on the second level, and the master bedroom on the top floor—all feature white concrete floors, whitewashed walls and ceilings, and natural and gray-stained oakwood.

In these neutral areas, i29 introduced pops of rich color to signify transitions to new spaces. The team marked the end of the kitchen with a rich-green glass door that leads to a glass-clad bathroom and a bright white guest room. The translucent material preserves sight lines and helps provide a feeling of spaciousness.

In the living room, a bookcase swings out on hinges to reveal a secret sleeping nook painted in a calming, blue-gray hue. A television on the flip side of the bookcase can be enjoyed from the snug bed, or from the living room.

Throughout the home, i29 introduced simple, contemporary furnishings that never distract from the historic character of the spaces. This easy marriage of old and new is captured in the living room, furnished minimally with just a sofa and a Wing chair from Norr11. A Gregg chandelier from Foscarini contrasts with the original molding, yet its gentle presence works in perfect harmony with the calm room.

On the same floor, i29 turned an awkward space into a small study. "It was no easy task to optimally position and integrate the desk in this small room with an angled wall," the firm says. A swath of fresh, sage green paint that echoes the foliage outside the large window.

The design team devoted the entire third floor, with its peaked ceilings and prime views, to the primary suite. The shower is encased in mirrored, one-way glass that provides privacy while preserving views out to the canal.

The team introduced a Japanese soaking tub because they wanted a freestanding bath that would preserve the room’s architecture—and also because they simply "could not fit a normal size bathtub." The deep tub creates a tranquil, spa-like space.

To mimic the slightly wavy pattern in 17th-century glass, the team installed Van Ruysdael Monument Glass windows, which the homeowner says are used in some well-known monuments in France to preserve the original look while providing maximum insulation.

"In the Netherlands, we are quite OK with each other looking into our houses," says the homeowner, who opted to keep these historic glass windows uncovered. "That’s why the city center looks so inviting and warm—there is always the glow of a light above the table."

"Having to deal with strong limitations and requirements always stimulates creativity, and with this project this was very much the case," concludes the team at i29.

Related Reading:

A Dutch Tiny Home Is a Serene Lakeside Retreat

A Floating Home Brings the All-Black Aesthetic to the Canals of Amsterdam

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: i29 / @i29architects

Interior Design: i29 / @i29architects

Restoration Contractor: G.K. Visbeen & Co. 

Cabinetry Design/Installation: Schneider interieurbouw

Restoration Architect: Kodde Architects / @koddearchitecten

Suspension Globe Lighting Fixtures: Gregg by Foscarini

Living Room Lounge Chair: Mammoth Chair by Norr11 

Oak Floor: Seasons Parket

Fabric Wall (in Living Room): Kvadrat Acoustics

Photography: Ewout Huibers