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A Bright Attic Home for an Immigrant Family in Amsterdam

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MAMM Design have renovated a dark two-storey attic in Amsterdam to build a home for an immigrant family of four, used to brighter light.

They opened up the attic ceiling, exposing the giant rafters – allowing the light to flood the entire open space.

The most unusual idea: right in the center of the new open space, a box containing the kitchen is sunken into the stairwell, a window to its side.

As one climbs up the stairwell, looking to the right, one sees through an open frame into this sunken kitchen.

Sharing the central tower stairs with the kitchen is the bathroom and toilet, utilizing the existing plumbing.

The new home is housed in the top two floors of part of this 85-year-old building in the Netherlands.

Obviously, the exterior cannot be altered, but there are many changes made within the shell of the existing building to protect against the gloomy weather of Amsterdam.

The light from the existing skylight works overtime by opening up the floor to let it light two floors.

The architects placed new grating stairs and small landings around the central stair-tower to create some places to stay at various levels.

Parents can oversee a colorful vignette of the living room from the bedroom, brilliantly daylighted from the central skylight.

All the balustrades are kept safe with rope nets, a cheerfully childlike touch suggesting an industrial gym.

And at the very top of this gloom-dispelling new attic home, a playroom for the two young children.