i29 Designs a Serene Multigenerational Home in the Netherlands

Surrounded by lush trees, i29 has completed a refined and future-oriented addition to a home in the Netherlands – an independent residence designed specifically for the older generation. Tucked alongside the family’s primary home, the new 1,076-square-foot Senior Shelter structure exemplifies compact, multigenerational living at its most thoughtful.

A modern, single-story house with a black exterior and sloped roof, surrounded by trees and greenery under a partly cloudy sky.

Designed to foster connection while preserving privacy, the single-story black house is deliberately placed to nurture proximity between grandparents and their children and grandchildren. This goal is achieved through sensitive site integration, spatial balance, and a minimalist yet warm aesthetic that encourages both togetherness and autonomy.

Modern single-story house with a dark exterior, large windows, and a landscaped yard with tall grass in the foreground.

With its exposed-rafter roof and minimalist, low-slung profile, the Senior Shelter blends effortlessly with its natural surroundings while quietly asserting a sense of purpose. The architects opted for waxed-wood facades and an extended roof clad in sandwich panels to create shaded walkways and overhangs. The structure’s modest scale and elongated rooflines help it blend into the landscape, reducing its visual impact.

Modern single-story house with black exterior siding, large glass windows, and a sloped metal roof, surrounded by tall grass and lush greenery under a partly cloudy sky.

Modern black house with large glass doors and windows, open to a minimalist interior; tall grass and potted plant in the foreground.

At the heart of the home, a central patio anchors the plan, bringing natural light into the interior and serving as a visual and spatial connector between indoor and outdoor zones. Three fully retractable sliding glass doors offer residents the flexibility to open the interior entirely to the garden, enhancing the sense of openness and allowing for a seamless indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Additional sliding panels on the west side of the building provide shade and privacy as needed, allowing the home to adjust to changing seasons and preferences.

Modern house exterior with large glass windows and black wood cladding, showing an indoor seating area and outdoor greenery under a partly cloudy sky.

A modern black wooden house exterior with vertical paneling, large windows, a concrete walkway, and green landscaping on a cloudy day.

Modern kitchen with large windows, a central island, open shelving, minimalist white cabinets, and views of greenery outside.

Inside, a carefully curated material palette of oak, light gray concrete, and soft white accents creates a serene atmosphere. A continuous band of oak wall cladding wraps the interior, drawing the eye upward and around the space. This visually supports the structure’s high ceilings and exposed rafters, making the space feel more expansive than its footprint might suggest. The white ceilings and rafters offer contrast to the home’s black exterior walls, keeping the residence from feeling too stark.

Minimalist modern kitchen with white cabinetry, an island, built-in appliances, open shelving, large window, and high sloped ceiling with exposed beams.

Custom-designed cabinetry and the kitchen mirror the linear flow of the architecture. The minimalist kitchen, dining, and living room wrap around the patio allowing each open space prime access to the outdoors and fresh air when the sliding doors are open. When closed, the occupants can enjoy different vantage points of the surrounding greenery depending on their location.

Large triangular window in a modern building frames a view of green trees and part of a wooden roof under an overcast sky.

Modern open-plan interior with white walls and ceilings, large glass windows, a dining area with white chairs, and a view of greenery outside.

Minimalist living room with a light gray sofa, round coffee table, abstract painting on the wall, large windows, and neutral decor.

A modern window seat with a light gray cushion is set beside a large window overlooking green trees, next to a black wood stove with firewood stored below.

Minimalist kitchen with gray cabinets and island, stainless steel appliances, and a hallway with glass and wood paneling leading to a green outdoor area.

On the opposite side of the house, accessed through glass doors, is the Senior Shelter’s bedroom and bathroom. The double glass doors denote the private quarters without disrupting visual sightlines from one end of the house to the other.

A modern interior with sliding glass doors opens to a bright kitchen area and a view of trees outside; neutral colors and clean lines dominate the design.

Minimalist interior with light wood panel walls, grey floor, white ceiling beams, and large glass window showing a modern kitchen area with shelves and a round ceiling light.

A person walks away down a hallway with light wood walls and a vaulted white ceiling, toward a bright room with large windows.

Minimalist hallway with light wood paneled walls, white vaulted ceiling with exposed beams, and a concrete floor, leading to a glass door with a view of greenery outside.

Minimalist bedroom with light wood sliding doors, white ceiling beams, and a bed with a blue checkered blanket. A glass door at the far end opens to a garden with greenery outside.

View through open wooden sliding doors into a modern minimalist bedroom with white ceiling beams, a bed, large window, and garden visible outside.

A modern bathroom with light wood sliding door, oval mirror, vessel sink, open shelf with towels and baskets, gray walls, and recessed ceiling lights.

Minimalist bathroom with a round mirror, oval sink, wall-mounted faucets, toiletries, folded towels, a wicker basket, and neutral grey walls under recessed lighting.

A modern black wooden building with vertical paneling sits beside a small border garden, gravel path, and tall green hedges under leafy trees.

A modern black wooden house with large windows sits beside a gravel path, with a glass door open to reveal a bright interior and greenery outside.

A modern, single-story black house with a large window and minimalist landscaping, set on a gravel lot surrounded by greenery and trees.

A modern black wooden house with a sloped metal roof sits in a gravel yard, surrounded by green trees and hedges under a cloudy sky.

Aerial view of a residential property with two buildings, a swimming pool, patio areas, parked cars, and surrounding greenery.

For more information on Senior Shelter by i29, visit i29.nl.

Photography by Ewout Huibers.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.