Modern living on a traditional farm in the middle of the landscape of Ansen. That is the approach of the ‘Prinses op de es’ farm plan. Four free-standing modern houses, in the form of farms, are being built on the property, which, thanks to their Saxon characteristics, are seamlessly connected to the environment. The plan is an example of how a village expansion can be organised in the future.

New way of building
With the plan, the municipality breaks with the way of building from the 20th century, where expansion plans always added an extra layer around the city and village centres. As a result, the relationship between new construction on the one hand and the original development and landscape on the other hand, was often lacking. The farmyard of the farm plan fits in well with the rural environment, partly thanks to the unambiguous yard partitions of hedges and extra yard planting. The land behind the yard will keep its agricultural purpose.

The design of the farm plan ‘Prinses op de es’ refers to the history of the village of Ansen. Originally, Ansen was a medieval Saxon village on the outskirts of a field called an es. This is a spherical and enclosed field. The farm was designed in line with this. From a distance, the farm looks as if it belongs to the original buildings, allowing the houses to blend into the landscape.

The yard and the homes
Four houses are connected to each other by the collective yard. This outdoor area will have a suitable pavement and greenery. The yard offers a space to meet each other and is also a place where children can play safely. The adjacent orchard is also accessible to all residents. In addition, each house has a large private garden. Every house is detached and the buyers can give substance to the home and garden, within the rules of the visual quality plan.