7 Villas

The beautiful, wooded plots together with the bunkers left from World War II, provided a major inspiration for our design. Tree specialists were called in to estimate the value of the existing vegetation. The various villas were carefully positioned amongst the monumental bunkers and trees. The villas each consist of two volumes: a heavier brick mass and a lighter mass made of sheet material. Both parts are covered by a gently sloping roof which through its large eaves seems to float into space. A transparent corridor running through the whole house, separates the two volumes. Large fronts provide commanding views, which at the same time are framed by the casing, jutting out of the brickwork. Positioning several frames on the corners produced the surprising effect of diagonal sight lines. The interaction between the surrounding trees and the large glass windows is overwhelming whereas at the framed casing it is more remote. The bark like brickwork, the woody plating and the wooden cap with its zinc colored roofing make the villas harmonize with the surrounding trees. By using different volumes and materials the villas are anchored and light, but at the same time remaining spatial and intimate. Daylight enters everywhere, in some places directly, in others scattered or diffused. The staggering of the roofs also allows daylight to fall into the landings and corridors. The different types of houses each have their own variants. Every type is adaptable to the stage of life of the inhabitants such as having young children, the hobbies of a family or elderly people who want to sleep downstairs.