Stay Under the Radar
The nature retreat “Stay Under the Radar" has been built at Buitenplaats Koningsweg, which used to be a military base on the edge of the De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The residence, designed by Sander van Schaik in collaboration with Robert-Jan de Kort, cleverly reveals the hidden military history of the country estate Buitenplaats Koningsweg in an artistic way. In June of this year, Verblijf Onder de Radar was honoured with the 2024 Heuvelink architecture prize.
Country estate Buitenplaats Koningsweg
The Koningsweg in Arnhem marks the southern boundary of Dutch 5,400-hectare De Hoge Veluwe National Park. Buitenplaats Koningsweg was a former military site constructed by the Germans during the Second World War as part of the military airfield 'Fliegerhorst Deelen'. To obscure the presence of aircraft hangars and shelters for personnel from the Allies, the Germans camouflaged the various buildings on the site as farms. Consequently, it is not easy to ascertain the military origin of the Buitenplaats, as it remains hidden beneath the surface.
In recent years the site has been repurposed from a military base to a ‘cultural enclave’ where artists and other creative individuals reside and work. The most recent addition includes 11 small vacation homes, each uniquely themed around one theme; camouflage. These hidden homes are situated within the wooded area in a way that is both unexpected and fitting, creating a permanent architectural exhibition.
Stay Under the Radar
After the war, several buildings were constructed on the estate. One of them is the radar tower, which was used as a training facility for the Radio-Radar School. The modest building had an impressive radar installation on its roof – an enormous steel construction with a characteristic antenna at its highest point.
Near the Radar Tower in an open field between the trees, there is now the nature retreat ‘Verblijf Onder de Radar’ (translated “Stay under the radar”). The structure's matte black faceted design resembles the 'F117 Nighthawk', an iconic jet aircraft developed in the 1980s, renowned for its radar-evading capabilities achieved through stealth technology.
The radar tower is a remnant of the significant and fascinating military history of the estate. However, without its installation, it is no longer recognisable as such. With the establishment of ‘Verblijf Onder de Radar’, the military past of the Buitenplaats Koningsweg is once again made visible in an artistic way.
‘Verblijf Onder de Radar’ has a mysterious appearance with its black angular shapes. The folded down fibreglass open mesh gratings around make it seem like it has just landed on the forest floor. Inside, the black steel profiles are clearly visible and, along with the fibreglass gratings, give the interior a utilitarian and industrial character, reminiscent of being inside a machine. The facade is very closed, with only two small openings for ventilation, but no view of the surroundings. The roof is a large window, and the sleeping area below provides a spectacular view of the swaying trees and the starry sky.
Nicely integrated within its surroundings
The supporting structure consists of four light steel trusses and is covered with wooden facade elements. Because of its low weight, the accommodation could be solidly founded on just screw piles, causing minimal disturbance of the soil. This foundation allowed the building to be constructed close to the 20-meter-high old oak next to the structure.
The building employs low-tech solutions to establish a comfortable indoor environment. The black EPDM covered facade allows the building to heat up rapidly when exposed to the sun. Strategically placed facade openings and the grated floor parts ensure unobstructed airflow from floor to ceiling throughout the building. The resulting chimney effect effectively removing excess heat at the top during summer while providing a fresh air supply at the ground floor of the building.
