Project ‘Kas di Coral’
Architect: Bahama-Architecten, Sipke Kingma
Kunst am Bau: Tanja Isbarn in collaboration with Sipke Kingma and Arnold ten Brink
Location: Groningen, Netherlands
Completion Date: 2011
GFA: 291 m²
Photographer: Richard Zomerdijk
Project Description
The “Kas di Coral” project is located in the new district “De Linie,” which is part of the urban area Europa Park in Groningen, Netherlands. In 2001, this undeveloped district was the site of the Blue Moon manifestation, an event directed by Toyo Ito that created a temporary symbiosis between architecture and visual art. The urban plan for ‘De Linie’ was designed by Wiel Arets and is characterized by a notably high urban density. The plot size measures 12 meters wide and 15 meters deep.
Some key requirements of the quality plan include flat roofs, buildings placed directly on the street, and one of the side property lines. Like the Blue Moon manifestation, the ‘Kas di Coral’ project is a fusion of architecture and art. The house was designed by Sipke Kingma / Bahama Architects, with the facade design created in collaboration with visual artist Tanja Isbarn.
The main structure of the house adheres to, highlights, and reinforces the strict preconditions of the quality plan. The building is orthogonal in shape, with a strict organizational schedule based on the floor plans. Its outward appearance is entirely white. As the name ‘Kas di Coral’ suggests, there is a special connection to the Netherlands Antilles, specifically the island of Bonaire. The aesthetic concept of the front and back facades, called Muraya di Coral, is derived from fossilized coral mass, which forms the basic substance of Bonaire’s atoll island.
The two wall surfaces (concrete plates) facing the public space are perforated with organic holes. The oblique cuts of these holes allow daylight to enter the interior of the three floors in a surprising way. Throughout the day, a dynamic play of light and shadow appears on the walls, creating a changing atmosphere inside the house. In the evening, this variable light pattern is reflected outward, engaging the outside environment.
The contrast between the fragile beauty of coral reefs and human development—distancing from and distorting nature—is reflected in the organic patterns of the perforations versus the tight, sterile architecture. Energy efficiency was an important consideration in this concept. The house’s heating and hot water needs are supported by 10 m² of solar panels on the roof. Daylight is prioritized as a passive energy source, and the entire house is equipped with LED lighting.
The house embodies the contradiction of human development: distancing from nature while still depending on it, forming a kind of symbiosis—an interpretation of cultivated origins. The current design reflects this dilemma, highlighting both our reliance on and separation from the natural world.