Residential house in old barracks

Enter an old military barracks with small windows and surrounding high-rises that limit natural light. In this National Monument in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, interior architect Rob Neefs of NR79 realized this surprisingly bright interior.

Neefs likes to work with cast floors in his interior design concepts. For this concept, this proved challenging due to the presence of a floating concrete subfloor. This allows action in the floor, which is why there is a chance of cracking in a cast floor. In consultation with DRT, an extra-flexible Super Base underlayment was chosen. This carpet pad is optimized to accommodate small movements. In combination with DRT’s PU Urban Velvet casting floor, this significantly reduces the risk of cracking.

DRT’s Urban Velvet PU is available in a wide range of colors. This concept deliberately chose an all-white floor. This ensures that the low light is reflected optimally in the room. In addition, the custom furniture elements are made of bamboo. The interplay between the wood and plastic flooring is modern, light and contemporary.

Rob prefers working with partners in the region. That is also how he came into contact with DRT. It has proven to be a long and fruitful collaboration. Neefs: “DRT thinks with me and is very solution-oriented. Through their expertise, we always arrive at the perfectly fitting floor solution, both aesthetically and constructively.”

Photography: iTook