In a residential area mainly characterised by 19th and 20th century villas in the small town of Bilthoven in the Netherlands, architect and designer Jean-Martin Clijsters has built a modern villa that stands in stark contrast to the surrounding buildings. A somewhat prominently overhanging flat roof, enclosed white expanses and distinctive lines characterise the design.
This 600-square-metre building estate is located in a pretty, tree-lined street in Bilthoven in the Dutch province of Utrecht. Strict building plan requirements determined the unusual alignment of the rooms. The house looks relatively closed off south- wards towards the 12-metre-long forecourt; in contrast to the north side, which encompasses the garden on to which the living quarters open up. Rooms are well-lit thanks to the 22-metre- long glass front, which in suitable weather provides the option of extending the living space onto the terrace. The terrace itself is part of the 16-by-23-metre natural stone platform on which the house stands.
The focal point on the ground floor is the open kitchen, around which the dining and living areas are grouped. Also glazed, the study, which faces the street, is protected from inquisitive eyes by an expanded mesh grille. The upper floor is divided into areas for the children and for the par- ents. Both sections are arranged so that each room has its own sheltered external area: the parents look out onto the garden, while the children have lots of light from the south. Rooms are protected against excessive warming by their low porch roofs.
