Dutch architect Paul de Ruiter has sent us another completed project, this time it’s the Villa Röling,
a waterfront home in the town of Kudelstaart, Netherlands.

From Paul de Ruiter:

The clients of villa Röling are passionate art collectors. They love to be surrounded by works of art. Therefore their main wish regarding their new dwelling was that it would do greatest justice to their collection of paintings and sculptures. However, the location of their house, at the edge of the lake Westeinderplas, is so spendid that it was no option to make a closed volume which would have large wall surfaces for hanging on the paintings but would limit the view of the surroundings. The view of the lake and the garden should be maximal. Therefore we decided to design two contrasting volumes, a transparent glass volume overlooking the lake and the garden, and a floating´ wooden box on top of it for the works of art.

Visit Paul de Ruiter’s website - here.

Incidence of light
The ground floor consists of a series of museumlike ordened spaces, offering varying views of the lake and the surroundings. The overall glass facade folds itself almost invisibly around the spaces and creates a contour which together with the overhanging superstructure alllows for varying incidence of light. At the outside, back from the glass facade, there are cloths which can be pulled up. The cloths not only screen from solar heat, they create a covered and screened off terrace too.

Spatial unity

The wooden box on top has several big openings in it. In the centre of the house there is an empty space with a skylight and all four facades have a large window. At the two ends of the superstructure are the bedrooms with a maximal view of the surrounding nature. Sunblinds, developed by our own, screen from sunlight and solar heat. The sunblinds, made of horizontal slats, move like shutters. Because they consist of two parts with a bend in the middle, the shutters when opened raise like porches above the glass facade. The paintings and sculptures can be exhibited in the centre of the house around the empty space. The empty space unites spatially ground floor and top floor and the skylight allows daylight to enter both floors.

Address: Kudelstaartseweg, Kudelstaart (NL)
Gross floor area: 340 m²
Volume: 1.116 m³
Program: dwelling with exhibition space
Start design: August 2006
Start construction: November 2006
Completion: March 2008

Design: Architectenbureau Paul de Ruiter bv, Amsterdam
Project architect: Paul de Ruiter
Project team: Noud Paes, Willem Jan Landman, Helga Traksel, Dieter Blok, Willeke Smit

Landscape design: Copijn
Construction advisor: Bouwtechnisch adviesbureau J.L. Croes
Installations: Wahlen & Jongkind
Facade: MHB
Contractor: Van Scheppingen Bouw
Photography: Pieter Kers

Architect Paul McKean has sent us the Neal Creek residence he designed, which is a rural vacation home located near Hood River, Oregon.

From the architect:

The Neal Creek residence treads lightly upon its surroundings, maximizing valley and water views with minimal impact to the natural environment.  The owners - windsurfing and snowboarding enthusiasts - were interested in a modest weekend retreat that would be highly efficient and ecologically minded.  Their wooded two-acre parcel of land presented many unique challenges including wetlands, creek protection setbacks, and floodplain restrictions.  The design solution for the two-bedroom house addresses these issues by elevating the habitable space one full floor above grade.  Views to the creek are enhanced from this position and the living spaces float within the tree tops.  Lifting the main space protects the house from potential flooding and brush fire damage while making way for a covered outdoor patio and much needed gear storage below.  At the uppermost level, the roof has been sized and detailed to allow for a future planted roof that will replace the landscape lost to the building footprint and reduce heat gain to the interior spaces.

Visit Paul McKean’s website - here.

More description from the architect:

Material selections have been made that include mostly local, renewable, recyclable and natural building products.  Renewable materials include west coast cedar siding and wood framing, cabinetry and an FSC certified wood floor with a vegetable wax finish. Natural wool and rubber carpet tiles in the bedrooms can be easily replaced if damaged. The TPO roof can be recycled after its long life, protected by the planted eco roof. All interior finishes are no VOC applications.  A Solatube skylight provides natural daylight into bathroom. High efficiency windows and wood screens are placed to maximize daylight and views, as well as protect against summer heat gains

System selections have been made that are energy efficient, durable and healthy to its occupants. A rainscreen wall system will safeguard the wall assembly from moisture intrusion and subsequent mold problems, as well as guarantee a longer life for the cedar siding. Dual flush toilets and low flow fixtures reduce domestic water consumption. An Advantex, dual stage septic system protects creekside soil quality and provides digital, off site monitoring of waste water quality.

The project was completed after 11 months of construction, on budget.

The house is available as a vacation rental - here.

Visit Paul McKean’s website - here.