Biobased living inspired by nature

In the Frisian village of Nieuwehorne, a remarkable biobased home designed by Achterbosch Architecten shows how tradition and innovation can meet. Inspired by a 19th-century farmhouse, the timber house features hemp insulation, solar power and a sloped Sempergreen green roof. It is the finishing touch to a truly future-proof design.

Built from nature

Made entirely from renewable, biobased materials such as wood and hemp fibre.

Green roof, smart energy

The sloped Sempergreen roof supports biodiversity and reduces energy demand.

Healthy indoor climate

Natural insulation creates a breathable, comfortable and mould-free living space.

Tradition reimagined for tomorrow

Designed by Achterbosch Architecten and built by DW Bouw, this house blends the charm of the traditional Wâldhúske with the performance of cutting-edge sustainable design. Every element was chosen with one goal in mind: to build a home that’s healthy, circular and energy-neutral. The solid timber structure, combined with hemp-fibre insulation and bamboo details, forms a breathable shell that regulates moisture naturally. Solar panels, a heat pump and floor heating ensure comfort in every season, while a water-saving system reuses grey water to cut consumption in half. The result: a modern home that quietly restores balance between people, place and planet.

A green roof that completes the circle

The Sempergreen Pitched Green Roof System forms a natural crown on this biobased home. Designed for sloped applications, the vapour-open system provides both stability and living greenery: a roof that breathes just like the rest of the house. The pre-grown Sedum vegetation adapts perfectly to the Frisian climate, reducing heat in summer months. It improves air quality, captures rainwater and softens the home’s modern geometry with a touch of nature.

Innovation through biobased thinking

Built almost entirely from renewable materials, the house stores more CO₂ than it emits. The use of cross-laminated timber, wood-fibre insulation and natural finishes creates a low-impact, high-performance structure. Unlike conventional houses, this home is vapour-open, allowing it to “breathe” and self-regulate humidity. The result is a stable indoor climate that feels warm in winter, cool in summer and genuinely healthy year-round.

Circular design from the ground up

From the foundation upward, every component of these homes was chosen for longevity and renewability. Concrete is used only where necessary (in the foundation) while all other elements are made from CLT, bamboo and recyclable metals. Every joint uses dry connections, allowing materials to be reused or recycled in the future. The result: CO₂-negative homes that store more carbon than they emit during construction.

The role of the Sempergreen roof

The green roof is not just aesthetic, it’s an active contributor to performance. By buffering rainwater, it reduces storm-water runoff and relieves pressure on local drainage systems. Its living layer of Sedum species enhances biodiversity, attracting bees and pollinators. The system also lowers the rooftop temperature, increasing the efficiency of solar panels installed above it, which is proof that technology and nature can strengthen each other.

An icon of circular collaboration

This project is a showcase of regional innovation, bringing together partners such as GreenInclusive, DW Bouw and Vereniging Circulair Friesland. Each contributed knowledge and materials to build a house that embodies the circular economy in practice. From sourcing local materials to implementing energy-saving technologies, the Nieuwehorne home stands as a symbol of how collaboration can accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

Why a green roof belongs on every biobased home

A Sempergreen green roof extends the logic of biobased design to the very top of the building. It replaces the conventional, sealed roof with a living ecosystem, one that protects the structure, regulates temperature and brings nature closer to daily life. In biobased architecture, every layer should add value to the planet rather than take from it. The Sempergreen system does exactly that: it turns roofs into regenerative surfaces that give back to both people and the environment.

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