location
A half-hour drive away from Groningen city, we created a villa surrounded by water, remarkable for its sculptural form and strong connection of inner and outer spaces.
The Blauwestad is a new residential area in Oost-Groningen which is surrounded by water, fields and a nature reserve. There are five spacious residential areas, each with their own character. Villa Duyst is situated at the end of a long stretched-out island and is surrounded by water. As such it forms the 'end block' of a series of free-standing houses and is designated as a singular residence with a special design.
sculpture
Villa Duyst is created to stand out. Therefore we gave the villa a sculptural form with strong diagonal lines by choosing an S-shaped plan and large height variations in the ridge line and eaves of the roof. This outspoken form is further emphasized by incorporating the house and the garage into a single volume and by selecting similar color tones for the roof and the brick facade.
The sculpture of the residence presents its strong taller side to the two waterfronts and its lower side to the street. In this way, the residence forms the 'end block' for the island.
synergy
Synergy of the inner and outer spaces plays an important role in the design. Therefore we selected the S-shaped plan that incorporates two 'outside rooms' into the residential volume. An outside space open to the morning sun borders on the kitchen. On the other side, the afternoon and evening light reaches deep into the house. Bold cuts into the volume and large glass sliding doors which can be opened ensure that the inner and outer spaces continually stay in contact. Together with the view over the open green space and an abundance of light, air and space, this villa becomes a place to unwind.
#islands
