Project Data
Architect | Paul de Ruiter Architects |
Landscape Architect | Bosch Slabbers – Middelburg |
Advisor Construction | Broersma bv |
Advisor Building Physics | Smits van Burgst – Barendrecht |
Advisor Costs | Studio Bouwhaven – Barendrecht |
Installations | InTec – Kapelle |
Glas-Engineering | Si-X – Benthuizen |
Contractor | Bouwbedrijf Van de Linde – Goes |
Glass Producer | Thiele Glas – Germany |
Base Glass | Saint Gobain |
Photographer | Jeroen Musch |
Start Design | October 2006 |
Start Building Period | May 2009 |
Completion | January 2013 |
Location | Noord-Beveland – The Netherlands |
Gross Floor Area | 715 m2 (7.700 sq ft) |
Volume | 2.400 m3 (85.000 ft3) |
Programme | Extremely Energy-Efficient Luxury Villa |
Bedrooms | 3 |
Villa Kogelhof
From the architect:
Villa Kogelhof is designed based on complete autarky. Therefore the house is energy neutral. By using several techniques, the villa has a comfortable climate during all seasons, whilst being extremely energy efficient. It was an important wish from our client to create a simple, abstract, yet spectacular villa. The result is a composition; consisting of two square stacked volumes: one underground and one floating above ground. It is designed as an uncompromising glass box, supported by a steel V-frame.
The 25 hectare estate is part of a larger programme initiated by the government, which aims to connect regional ecological zones throughout the country. The current owner bought the site, once farmland, in 2006. It is a protected habitat for animals and plants and a major tourist draw in the area, open to the public. Permission to build a house on the land was given only on condition that it was returned to its pre-agricultural state. The planting of some 71,000 six-year-old trees hint at the future of the estate as ‘a villa in the woods’ and were planted already in 2006. A rectangular pond was digged, requiring the removal of 70,000 cubic meters of soil.
Contrast
The underground volume of the house consists the entrance, parking (for 6 cars and a tractor), storage, bathroom and a workspace which looks out over the pond. The living area is situated in the floating glass box above ground. It’s floor plan is completely open, except for some subtle glass room dividers. There are several separate volumes for the kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom and a multifunctional room. The patio has glass doors on both sides, so that it’s both accessible through the living room and the bathroom. The entire floor is covered with white epoxy and the furniture consists of designer classics from Le Corbusier and Eileen Gray. The façade is completely made out of glass and offers a spectacular view over the surrounding landscape.
Self-sufficient
One of the main principles of Villa Kogelhof was to translate luxury into the happiness of independence. The goal for the villa was to be self-sufficient; to generate its own energy, to heat its own water and to recycle the garbage. To make sure Villa Kogelhof is energy neutral, the façade offers an important contribution. This so called climate-façade is composed of an outer layer of clear insulated glass from floor to ceiling and an inner layer of sun-reflecting fabric that can be rolled up and unrolled. When the fabric is lowered, an air cavity is formed in which the air from the villa is extracted of a central ventilation system. The house is heated by a central heating system in combination with an air pump. Warm water will in the near future be generated by using a range stove, in which wood will be fired from the trees out of the private forest of the estate. Electricity is generated from the PV-cells on the roof.
Paul de Ruiter Architects
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