SMÛK house, The Netherlands
Initiated by Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma (BGDD), SMÛK House is the first Living Places prototype outside Denmark. Opened in Dokkum, Friesland in September 2024, it demonstrates how the Living Places concept can adapt to different contexts and scale globally.
Learn More About SMÛK House
The SMÛK House marks a milestone for Living Places: the first prototype beyond Denmark. Built by Dutch homebuilder BGDD in partnership with the VELUX Group, the house showcases how sustainable, healthy, and affordable homes can address pressing challenges in the Netherlands, including housing shortages and high CO₂ emissions.
Why SMÛK House Matters
The Netherlands faces:
- Housing shortages
- Homes built with 4× the recommended CO₂ footprint
- Increasing complexity and reduced comfort for residents
SMÛK House offers an alternative:
- Healthy indoor climate with abundant daylight and natural ventilation
- Biobased materials for reduced emissions
- Affordable construction without compromising comfort
While SMÛK House demonstrates what’s possible, Dutch legislation still present hurdles for biobased construction and urban planning. BGDD is leading the way by collaborating with local farmers to grow hemp, flax, cattail, and miscanthus for insulation, creating circular materials and reducing CO₂ emissions.
Her Majesty Queen Máxima, Lone Feifer (Director, Sustainable Buildings, VELUX Group) and Lars Petersson (CEO, VELUX Group) at the opening of the first Living Places prototype in Dokkum, Netherlands.
About Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma
BGDD is an innovative Dutch construction company working with modular, biobased building solutions. From design to maintenance, BGDD takes responsibility across the value chain to deliver energy-producing, CO₂-neutral homes.
Future Outlook
SMÛK House is more than a single prototype; it’s a starting point for transforming Dutch housing. BGDD plans to scale biobased construction methods and Living Places principles across future projects, paving the way for healthier, affordable homes with drastically reduced carbon footprints.
Contact
- BGDD: Geartsje Weidenaar – g.weidenaar@bgdd.nl
- VELUX Group: Christine Boeriis Dannisøe – christine.dannisoee@velux.com
