Dezeen Magazine

Overtreders W created a temporary hotel room with borrowed materials in Veenhuizen, Netherlands.

Overtreders W constructs hotel cabin from locally sourced materials secured with straps

Dutch architecture studio Overtreders W has created Stable Stack, a temporary cabin hotel built using straps and borrowed materials, in Veenhuizen, the Netherlands.

The studio found the materials for the cabin in the village of Veenhuizen, sourcing concrete gutters and wood from carpenter Peter Kroes and roof tiles and paving slabs from Riedstra farm.

overtreder W built Stable Stack on a farm, by Overtreders W
Stable Stack features a strap-fastened structure built with borrowed materials

Instead of gluing, drilling or screwing, Overtreders W opted for tie-down straps to fasten the structure, so that the borrowed materials could be returned without damage and devaluation.

The studio also used the green straps as decorative elements and to add another layer of texture to the stable, "emphasising the versatile and innovative character of the structure," it said.

STABLE STACK is a temporary hotel room with a view of farmland, by Overtreders W
Stable Stack is a temporary hotel room with a view of farmland

The studio designed the temporary accommodation to highlight Veenhuizen's craftsmanship, history and environment.

The village, which is now a World Heritage Site, was first built as a reform housing colony, Landbouwkolonie Veenhuizen [agricultural colony Veenhuiz] by the forced labour of homeless people 200 years ago.

"In line with the modest history of the place, where labour and life took place with limited resources, this cosy dwelling has been created," said Overtreders W.

"Stable Stack showcases the beautiful possibilities that the combination of craftsmanship and sustainable handling of materials can offer."

STABLE STACK's Components were stacked and secured with straps, by Overtreders W
Components were stacked and secured with straps

Stable Stack, which is located in a peat meadow landscape and overlooks farmland, forms part of Veen Huis Hotel.

This is a project that celebrates 200 years of the village by maker and thinker collective Ketter&Co and local hotel Bitter & Zoet.

Hotel cabin in Netherlands
Stable Stack is one of seven temporary accommodations

It comprises seven temporary accommodations, created in unconventional ways, and opens its door for guests from May to October 2023.

"With a revaluation of the relationship between man and landscape and an explosion of creativity, the Veen Huis Hotel inspires an urgent conversation about the future of Veenhuizen as an experimental agricultural colony," said Ketter&Co.

STABLE STACK is a permeable accommodation, by Overtreders W
It was secured and decorated with green straps

Hester van Dijk and Reinder Bakker founded and head Overtreders W, a small Amsterdam architecture studio specialising in temporary structures.

At Dutch Design Week 2017, the studio collaborated with Bureau SLA and designed the People’s Pavilion with borrowed and reclaimed materials. The pavilion was the venue for Dezeen's Good Design for a Bad World talk series.

More recently, the studio built a demountable exhibition pavilion with pink hempcrete and recycled timber.

The photography is courtesy of Overtreders W.

More images

Overtreders W built STABLE STACK, a strap-tighten stable
Overtreders W built STAPEL OP/STABLE STACK with straps and borrowed materials
Overtreders W built STAPEL OP/STABLE STACK with straps and borrowed materials
Overtreders W built STAPEL OP/STABLE STACK with straps and borrowed materials
Overtreders W built STAPEL OP/STABLE STACK with straps and borrowed materials
Overtreders W built STAPEL OP/STABLE STACK with straps and borrowed materials
Overtreders W built STAPEL OP/STABLE STACK with straps and borrowed materials
Overtreders W built STAPEL OP/STABLE STACK with straps and borrowed materials