In the rapidly developing IJburg neighborhood—a unique district in Amsterdam built on artificial islands—the Brass House stands apart from its traditional brick-clad neighbors with its modern and sculptural form. Clad with angular brass elements on both its front and rear elevations, this striking 2,260-square-foot home is the work of local practice MOPET architecten.

The clients, a young family with a child, tapped the firm for an energy-efficient home with a spacious and serene atmosphere.

To that end, the architects installed six sets of full-height glazed sliding doors to bring the outdoors in, and combined a streamlined material palette with minimalist detailing to create an airy and tranquil indoor environment.

In keeping with a minimalist approach, the recyclable brass facade not only serves as eye-catching cladding, but is also engineered to protect the triple-glazed openings from unwanted solar gain.

“Brass is a 100-percent recycled product, an alloy of copper and zinc from old church-roofs, money, and musical instruments,” explain the architects of their choice of brass. “The material doesn’t lose its value, and gets a beautiful patina in time. We think it’s one of the few materials that ages nicely or even becomes more beautiful.”

The architects continue: “The material makes sharp, edged surfaces possible—each surface reflects the daylight in a different way, which creates a very dynamic facade, in contrast to the mostly masonry houses in the neighborhood. It shows and makes you realize the craftsmanship of the making; that’s rare in this time of speed we all live in. If you consider all that when you approach the home, it gives a sense of existence.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: MOPET architecten / @mopet.architecten

Builder/ General Contractor: Van Assema Bouw

Interior Design: MOPET architecten

Cabinetry Builder: Houtwerk

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A Sculptural Brass House Glows Like a Jewel in Amsterdam