Architects: Anne Holtrop.
Location: Almere, Netherlands.
Year: 2009.
Photographs: Bas Princen.
The Trail House by Anne Holtrop follows a network of ground pathways that were carved out by daily foot traffic. The interior is transformed into a “walking home” as the house takes on the role of a walkway. The house widens and then narrows as it follows the network of paths, offering a variety of views of the area. Holtrop establishes a clear connection with the surroundings by depicting the house as a byproduct of the place. No new, unpaved hiking routes can be built on the property as long as the house is there. The house is viewed as “an obstruction, an intrusive” where each new path is brought about by the house. “The hiker does not know exactly where the trail ends and the house begins. At what point does the unsuspecting walker experience the presence of the house, at what distance does he feels the discomfort of entering private property?”
