In Lemmer is a Friesian Stelp farm that was in operation as a dairy farm until the early 2000s. The business was no longer profitable and the farm and stables were sold. The farmhouse has been beautifully converted into a residence by Onix architects. The design gave new meaning to the farmhouse while maintaining its character. One of the stables was still used in the early years to house pennies. The other barn functions as a workshop, workshop and orangery.

The yard was designed by Diekman LANDSCHAPSARCHITECTEN and Dijk&co Landschapsarchitectuur, is also designed with the preservation of the character of a farmyard. The incorporation into this beautiful, open landscape has been done in a successful subtle way.

In the open Frisian clay polder landscape, the use of the garden mostly takes place directly around the farm, partly due to the constant wind that is present. To create some seclusion in the wonderfully beautiful, open landscape, the ornamental garden is framed by hedges. The hedges are staggered and have a varied height of 1.00 to 1.40m. Scale is created in the large space and also a defined space the garden.

Entering the yard, one enters a square between the farmhouse and the two stables, one of which was in use until 2002 for housing pennies. The other has the function of workshop, workshop and orangery. Cars are parked against a hedge that hides the cars from view. From the square a narrow path leads to the terrace, the vegetable garden, the orchard and the boathouse.

The orchard forms a long strip along the southern stable into the landscape. It also functions as a screen towards the road and obscures the view of the terrace directly adjacent to the kitchen diner.

Immediately adjacent to the orchard is the vegetable garden, which has been expanded over the years. In the vegetable garden a greenhouse has very recently been placed on the site of the original transformer house. In the strip between the entrance path to the terrace and the farm, at the height of the kitchen, a herb garden has been created.

Ornamental boxes have been applied minimally at a number of strategic points. From the kitchen and living room, a number of small boxes have been included against the hedges. At the entrance to the barn, the entrance to the house, a large ornamental shrub box has been created. This windless spot is also a good place to stay.

The terrace next to the living kitchen consists of a large wooden deck constructed at the level of the kitchen floor. Seen from the entrance, the path after the terrace has continued with only curbing and ends at an old, preserved apple tree.

The farm is located on a small lake in Friesland’s lake district, Brandermeer Lake. The residents are great sailing enthusiasts.  A ditch has been dug on the north side of the house and a boathouse built. At the head of the connecting ditch to Brandermeer Lake is a decking that facilitates boarding and also forms a third residence around the farm.

52°52'56.1"N 5°39'40.3"E