Context
On the edges of Antwerp, a straightforward, minimalistic private villa was built. The interior and the exterior are in very close contact with each other. The site is in a green environment with pines, softwoods, bird-cherry trees and planted conifers. On three sides, the site is bordered by a paved council road. The home itself measures 5,589m², with a surface area of 393m² (without the upper storeys). Not included are the covered spaces, sheds, the swimming pool and the terraces. Including the additional buildings, the total surface area is approximately 472m². These additional buildings have replaced several existing sheds. The new constructions are sustainable and better represent the aesthetics of the whole property. The new buildings also score highly in environmental friendliness: with its driven insulation, air-tight design and intelligent ventilation system, the home uses relatively little energy. In the summer, overheating is avoided by means of the large eaves. In the winter, when the sun lies low in the sky, the heat can still make its way inside.
Architecture
The facades have been fitted with an interchange of white architectural concrete panels and wooden plating. The joinery is aluminium. All materials are of the highest quality and great attention has been paid to insulation. Inside the house, there is a lift that extends from the basement level up to and including the first storey. One of the requests from the tenants was to minimise the barrier between the indoor and outdoor spaces to help facilitate the many parties organised at the house. The large glass partitions to the kitchen and the living room ensure that the interior appears to continue through to the terrace. This creates a very spacious effect. The house also had to be very straight and minimalist. This architectural approach was maintained throughout the interior. At the same time, the home was given a warm and homely feel.
Interior
The interior design was a balancing exercise in which straight minimalism was prevented from becoming sterile. This was achieved using contrasts between dark and light. The kitchen is white, the cabinets have a veneer of dark pin oak. For the kitchen, bathroom and the terrace, there was a search for a darker tile that suited this colour palette without appearing too sterile. The tiles also needed to measure at least one metre by one metre. The greatest eye-catcher is the swimming pool with its adjustable floor. The floor of the swimming pool has been covered in the same tile used in the kitchen and on the terrace. It is also height-adjustable; it can be raised to the same height as the rest of the terrace, effectively making the swimming pool invisible. The floor can be set at any height so that it can also serve, for example, as a footbath. It then looks somewhat more like a lovely pond. The swimming pool also has a tiled staircase that sinks, step by step, with the floor of the swimming pool.