We seem to have reached a point when traditional looks almost fresh and new again among the sea of uniform steel and glass. Such is the impression Villa Naarden leaves, at least from the first, less inquisitive glance. Perhaps, it is because of its sculptured thatched roof that you won’t see in most similar modern Dutch (or any other, for that matter) homes anymore. And yet it too hasn’t escaped modernity with its numerous steel-framed windows and wall-sized glass doors. Together, though, the two styles undeniably create something different, something as gorgeous as Villa Naarden.
DENOLDERVLEUGELS Architects & Associates carried out the project in full. It also included the design of its immediate landscapes filled with ornamental grasses and tall blooming plants (with a mission to deliver homes in their totality the architects offer services that cover everything from purchasing guidance to construction and interior design).
Villa’s exterior demonstrates a tasteful mix of materials and textures each bringing its own distinct style and aesthetic to the facade. There is white plaster and brick siding, black steel window frames and wooden paneling – all of which looks surprisingly organic under a sculptured thatched roof.
Open plan interiors of the villa welcome with a similar mix of modern and traditional elements as well as sunlit wooden stairs, spacious rooms, and cozy atmosphere. Multiple indoor and outdoor areas flow into each other offering open and half-open spaces where to sit back and enjoy the lively environment surrounding the carefully designed landscapes.
It certainly looks like no ordinary traditional Dutch thatched house or a modern steel framed glass box. (Photography by Michael van Oosten)
Villa Naarden
