House Co - Va

Nijlen, Belgium

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House Co - Va

Nijlen, Belgium

Firm

Architectenburo Anja Vissers

Type

Residential › Private House

YEAR

2013

Natural warmth and pure simplicity were the main points of the design brief for an eye-catching family home that blends into its environment. Architect Anja Vissers achieved this through using quartzite, padauk, oak, and walnut in graphical elements and invisible structures.

The visual and physical connection between padauk and quartzite (the stone used by 2009 Pritzker Prize winner Peter Zumthor in the Therme Vals in Switzerland) in both the exterior and interior underline the property’s natural surroundings.

Each cornerstone was individually carved into an L-shape so as to avoid obvious seams or connections in the facade. Drainpipes were inset into the exterior walls in order to allow an unobstructed visual line around the structure.

Fun and function start from the moment you step through the massive pivoting door. Bedrooms with cantilevered terraces overlook the garden, pool house, and neighboring pastures. The quartzite returns in the library and the living room, subtly and indirectly lit, creating an effortless transition between indoor and outdoor. Floor to ceiling windows give the ever-changing natural light its own playground.

Circulation between the areas was designed to follow the residents’ daily routines; both kitchen and living room flank the kitchen at the heart of the home. The home office and hobby room become the private sanctuaries through their placement at mid-lower ground and mezzanine levels.