Authentic, relaxed, Dutch, beautiful
Wilgenrijk is a new piece of the Netherlands between Rotterdam and The Hague, close to Maassluis, Maasland and the Midden-Delfland nature reserve. The area is rural, green and rich in water, offering a sense of calm that is rare in the Randstad. For the Kompas sub-area, JagerJanssen designed 16 unique semi-detached houses on a small peninsula.
Together they form a pleasant residential neighbourhood. The surrounding, typically Dutch, designed water landscape winds its way calmly between the houses. Each home is unique in both appearance and positioning on its plot, yet they are clearly related through a carefully considered choice of materials. The zinc roofscape connects all the houses and creates a harmonious overall unity.
Urban design, landscape, architecture
The neighbourhood forms a calm transition zone between rural farm ribbon roads and a water-rich island landscape.
The urban design master plan for Kompas was developed by Bureau B+B. The landscape design was created by ECHO urban design (formerly Plein06). JagerJanssen was responsible for the architecture.
All three offices were closely involved in the development of De Maassluise School and worked intensively together during the design process for Kompas. To emphasise the importance of the landscape component, a series of intensive design sessions with ECHO urban design led to a plan in which landscape, urban design and architecture reinforce one another. This is reflected, for example, in the use of reinforced grass for visitor parking, the marking of private plots by recognisable “cart tracks” embedded in gravel driveways, and the coherent use of materials, with natural materials forming the main palette.
The result is a small-scale neighbourhood in which landscape and architecture are recognisable elements within the larger context of Wilgenrijk. The connecting road curves gently between the houses, with a subtle rise that enhances the landscape experience. The urban layout consists of a composition of eight loosely arranged volumes, comprising two distinctly different types of semi-detached houses. Within the framework of these two types, a variety of entirely new, spatial floor plans has been developed. Combined with the careful and rich detailing of the homes, this ensures that every house in Kompas is unique, while together they clearly form a unified whole.
Design
The 16 unique semi-detached houses, with distinctive zinc roofs, together form a recognisable neighbourhood that connects two different residential atmospheres. This simple premise guided us throughout the entire design process. Those who look closely will be able to discern the underlying design principles.
At Kompas, every resident arrives home in their own way, to their own unique house. The homes are clearly related in form and materiality, yet certainly not identical. The position of each house on its plot has been carefully determined, as has the placement of the window openings. In a harmonious and natural manner, surfaces of wood, brickwork and modest, characteristic detailing alternate with one another. By using two different mortar colours in the brickwork, the houses on either side of the road appear subtly different. The darker mortar is used for the façades facing the sun, while the lighter mortar is applied to the remaining façades.
Our contemporary interpretation of classical roof forms is accentuated by the use of refined, pre-patinated zinc roofing. The zinc roofscape – with neatly integrated PV panels – lies loosely draped over all the houses like a tablecloth, even reaching the ground at the four corners of the plan. This design principle allows for a certain degree of individual “clutter” at ground level without being disruptive; it does not detract from the overall composition, but instead contributes to the residents’ sense of comfort and freedom.
Stylish, natural use of colour and materials creates a sense of calm and gives the neighbourhood an exclusive and intimate character. Atmospheric, comfortable and natural. The architecture is timeless and contemporary. This is authentic, relaxed, Dutch, beautiful.
