Uniquely Balanced Contemporary Home by JagerJanssen Architects, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Dubbed Baetens House,” this “contemporary home in Rotterdam, Netherlands, designed by JagerJanssen Architects, makes a weighty statement with its traditional brick base layer – featuring a meticulous spattering of multi-shades of grey – topped with a modern wooden second storey. The home ’s wooden upper level boasts a facade of planks, each thoughtfully placed as if forming a puzzle. Both lighter in aesthetics and in mass, the wood is a logical complement to its solid base. Inside, sleek finishes are complemented by the same warm wood gracing the upper exterior, punctuating the minimalist mode.