01 · Challenge
Parent close to home, yet independent
A family in Ede wanted the resident's mother to live on their own plot so they could be close to her quickly. They deliberately chose not to build an extension onto the existing house but instead a detached unit in the garden. This gave the mother privacy and her own front door. The municipality of Ede grants a temporary building permit for care annexes for a maximum of 10 years, provided the unit meets specific requirements: a minimum floor area of 30 m², facilities for independent living and a connection to the existing utility services.
02 · Our approach
Functional layout with all care facilities
We designed a compact but comfortable living unit of 40 m² with a bedroom, a bathroom with a level-access shower, a kitchen-living area and a veranda. The layout took into account potential future mobility limitations of the mother: wide circulation spaces and a logical routing. We prepared the application for the temporary exemption with a care declaration from the GP and submitted the building permit to the municipality of Ede. The foundation was kept lightweight so that removal after the temporary period would remain feasible.
03 · Result
Parent next door, peace in the family
The temporary exemption was granted within 5 weeks. The living unit was built using a timber-frame structure and completed in 3 weeks. The mother now lives there to full satisfaction: her own bathroom, her own small kitchen and yet close to her children and grandchildren. The veranda visually connects the two homes. The family feels at ease knowing the mother is nearby. A well-designed care annex does more than provide living space: it brings peace of mind to the whole family.