"Bolwoningen" can be translated as ball apartment or onion house. These round houses were built in 1984 to a design by artist and sculptor Dries Kreijkamp. They form an experimental settlement in the city of Den Bosch (the Netherlands), reminiscent of an alien colony.
Each structure sits on a cylindrical base. Stepping inside, you enter a small space that can barely be called a hallway given its dimensions, which leads to a staircase. Higher up, within the sphere of the house, you find the bedroom, kitchen, living room and bathroom all together. The living spaces, connected by a spiral staircase, span three floors.
In the designer's view, the spherical form of the Earth fits most naturally into the natural environment
Six round windows allow generous amounts of daylight to enter the home. In the designer's view, the spherical shape of the Earth sits most naturally within its surroundings. Every one of the 55 square metres of space is used to its full potential, so residents feel no sense of cramped or confined living.
The round houses are not the only experimental structures of their kind. Tokyo has long been home to the Nakagin Capsule Tower — an extraordinary capsule building designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa.
Photo: Gili Merin (Gili Merin)
