From bungalow to villa
The villa from the 1970s, which has been renovated several times, is located on the edge of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug national park. In the 1980s, the former bungalow was given a high gable roof and in 2015 the villa was equipped with new dormer windows, extra wooden windows and a zinc gutter. The new windows from 2015 on the side of the house were not able to give the house the relationship to the garden that the clients were looking for. In addition, over time the need for more space arose.
Design
A modest design that follows the formal language of the existing house was the outcome of the search for more space and especially for a better relationship with the garden. A two-storey extension that follows the gable roof principle and harmonizes with the existing house. The contrast between old and new is subtle.
By joining the extension in the middle of the house, the seating area can be moved in its entirety to the extension and the limited relationship from the living room to the garden has changed into an almost limitless transition between the living room and the garden. The new gable roof has created space for a spacious new bedroom with large skylights for lots of light and air.
The steel construction in combination with the minimalist detailing ensures that the gable roof hangs floating above the new living room. This means that the entire extension on the ground floor can be made of glass and there is an optimal relationship with the garden. A low wall provides privacy and is designed as a free-standing volume with cupboard space containing, among other things, the TV.
The materialization fits in with the existing villa in its entirety. The zinc edging with a hidden gutter, the tiled roof, a wooden infill at the end and the cobbled brick facade can all be found in the existing house. The ceiling of the extension consists of WBP Okoumé plywood and extends from the inside to the outside. This gives the design even more strength in the connection between inside and outside. The atmosphere of the Okoumé fits in well with the dark wooden floor of the existing house. The ground floor of the extension is set back from the gable roof. This reinforces the difference between closed and open and offers the opportunity to sit outside, sheltered from the rain and sun. The method of detailing and the new tension between the closed top and the transparent bottom means that the design contrasts modestly with the existing house. However, above all, the extension forms a natural addition to the existing house.
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