For the residents of the north of Den Bosch, these cool futuristic bulb houses have been a part of the landscape since the 1980s (yes, they really have been there for that long).
The bolwoningen (bulb houses) were completed in 1984, along with the kubuswoningen (cube houses) located in the heart of Rotterdam. It was a year for experimental homes, and Rotterdam’s cube houses stole all the fame.
While there wasn’t much spotlight (😉) left for the bulb houses, they still managed to attract considerable attention over the past years.
To this day, people from abroad and from the Netherlands keep coming to see these futuristic houses for themselves.
What is their purpose?
These ‘bulb’ houses were designed by the Dutch architect Dries Kreijkamp, who had a passion for designing out-of-the-ordinary homes. He became fixated on houses shaped like spheres as he felt that this was the way forward.
He compared the 50 bolwoningen to clay huts and igloos, arguing that our world is also a sphere, so this shape is the perfect way to create a sustainable home. 🍙
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He aimed to make something that helped people be more in touch with nature, which is why the bulb houses are surrounded by grass and canals, and the windows are rounded, offering a 360-degree view.
The project wasn’t an easy one, though. Initially, the houses were not provided with any funding.
Once they were eventually built, there were also issues with the houses sinking and cracking, and they were threatened with demolishment until these were fixed.
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Kerijkamp thought his bulb houses would be the next big thing and was prepared to mass-produce them. But unfortunately, he passed away in 2014, and the bulb houses in Den Bosch are the only ones that stand today.
Where are the rooms?
I wondered where all the different rooms were myself — especially because when I visited the cube houses in Rotterdam, the whole shape just completely messed with my brain.
Apparently, the living room is at the very top of the bulb house, with the shower and toilet in the middle and storage areas and the bedrooms at the bottom.
This place is obviously only suitable for one person or a couple who doesn’t mind living in a tight space. Surprisingly, though, the inside is not as small as you would initially think.
How can I see them?
If you’d like to see these architectural marvels for yourself, you can find the bulb houses in the Maaspoort neighbourhood of Den Bosch.
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The area where they stand is surrounded by typical Dutch housing, but that just makes it easier to spot these unique buildings — they certainly stand out!
Have you visited these bulb houses in Den Bosch? What did you think? Tell us in the comments below!
Feature Image: Grotevriendelijkereus/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0
