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  • the seaside villa is located only a stone’s throw from a popular beach
  • the sculptural roof of the seaside villa wraps around a central living space with floor-to-ceiling windows that grant stunning views over the water
  • the east and west facades consist of a unique colour-mix of classic Danish Kolumba bricks, accompanied by dark red-brown aluminium and steel details
  • the brick facades enclose the central living space to ensure privacy while opening towards the water with the hilly Mols peninsulas visible on the opposite side of the bay
  • concept sketch illustrating the plan layout of two opaque on each side of a transparent central living space oriented towards the water
  • concept sketch illustrating the functional organization of two wings with bed- and bathrooms flanking an open space with kitchen, dining, and living room
  • the lower level forms a base of ancillary functions from where a staircase leads up to the heart of the seaside villa
  • the interior finishes create a light and welcoming atmosphere with warm wooden details Norwegian slate floors that link the interior and exterior spaces
  • view from the living room over the Aarhus Bay through the floor-to-ceiling glass facade
  • the protruding eaves of the undulating roof reduce the thermal stress on the glass facades and create generous roofed outdoor areas protected from the elements
  • view from the courtyard through the transparent central living space and on to the water
  • backyard view of the seaside villa from the lowered terrace that creates a protected outdoor space between the two floors
  • evening view from the backyard highlighting the transparent living space under the curving roof
  • evening view from the seaside highlighting the transparent living space under the curving roof
  • LOCATION: RISSKOV, DK
  • CLIENT: JØRGEN DANIELSEN
  • SIZE: 500M²
  • YEAR: 2013-2020
  • STATUS: COMPLETED
  • ARCHITECT: CEBRA
  • TURNKEY CONTRACTOR: Q-CONSTRUCTION
  • ENGINEER: TRI-CONSULT
  • AWARDS: AARHUS MUNICIPALITY ARCHITECTURE AWARD 2021

The seaside villa was developed for a site on the edge of a traditional single-family house residential area. It is located only a stone’s throw from one of Aarhus’ most popular beaches and offering magnificent views over the water and the hilly Mols peninsulas on the opposite side of the bay. Responding to the specific site conditions and the client’s wish for an artistic expression, the residence is designed as an inhabitable sculpture. It is wrapped in an distinctive undulating roof that frames expansive views over the Aarhus Bay while also sheltering the living spaces from the weather. It gives the villa a vibrant silhouette that takes on a different expression depending on your point of view and the capricious coastal weather.

Two levels – up and down
The interior is divided into two overall functional sections, each occupying one level of the two-storey residence. The lower level forms a base of ancillary functions from where a staircase leads up to the heart of the residence; a large, elevated space that connects to roofed outdoor areas facing north and south. This central living space is flanked by two enclosed private wings with bedrooms and bathrooms. The two wings ensure privacy for the central living space and shelter its functions from the omnipresent coastal winds while at the same time granting unobstructed views to the sea through the floor-to-ceiling glass facades.

The roof – curving and straight
The roof is the most distinctive and spatially defining element of the seaside villa. It almost glides over the central living space while tightly wrapping down the sides to anchor the villa on the plot. It not only covers the indoor areas but protrudes to the north and south to create sheltering eaves. The eaves reduce the thermal stress on the central space’s glass facades and create generous roofed outdoor areas protected from the elements.

To create a varying spatial experience and to subdivide the large living space into zones of different ceiling heights, the roof undulates along contrapuntal lines. The resulting curved planes and stringent arches create a sculptural and vivid signature for the villa, continuously changing the appearance of the building as you move around it.

Materials – inside and outside
Two contrasting material palettes characterize the residence, defining the exterior and interior, respectively. On the outside, the facades of the wings consist of a unique colour-mix of classic Danish Kolumba bricks, accompanied by dark red-brown aluminium and steel details. Contrasting the colours of the exterior, the interior finishes create a light and welcoming atmosphere with warm wooden details, most distinctively on the undulating roof’s underside. All floors, both inside and outside, are covered with Norwegian slate that creates coherence throughout the different spaces and harmonizes with both the interior and exterior colour palettes.

Published on
ArchDaily
designboom

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