Dutch villa's countryside design tantalizes in timber and glass

A sleek, low-lying family house, Villa Santpoort is a Dutch villa set in the heart of a wooded plot in the north of Holland. Architecture studio DP6 was given a specific brief that demanded the architecture make the most of the views through the trees in this countryside design; yet without compromising natural light or privacy.

The resulting design is a long, narrow house with a kink in its plan, which allows the structure to embrace the woodland site and focus on a stand of mature beech trees. The accommodation is arranged over three levels, with a run of bedrooms located in a new basement dug into the ground. A master suite is set at the end of the plan overlooking a private courtyard area.

Upstairs, on the entrance level, the garden-facing façade is entirely glazed, creating a backdrop of shimmering foliage to the living spaces. Above it, the sloping upper volume is clad in timber and bamboo slats and incorporates the double-height volumes of the main living space, as well as a mezzanine area that provides an elevated view of the leafy surroundings.

The core of the house features a combination of exposed, finely detailed concrete and wooden paneling, creating the feeling of a solid, crafted piece of furniture. This is accentuated by the bespoke cabinetry and storage, from the kitchen to storage niches in the dining area and the master dressing room.

The double-height volume extends over the stairwell, kitchen, and main living spaces, while the low wooden ceilings give the dining room a more intimate character. The glazed garden façade opens up onto a wooden deck, seamlessly aligned with the house’s concrete superstructure. A pool is set within this deck, with the trees beyond filtering the sunlight and providing natural privacy.

At night, the glazed volume of the countryside villa design shines through the slender bamboo slats, creating a different spatial perception to its daytime form as a monolithic timber box. The meticulous interior and exterior finishes stand in stark contrast to the natural landscaping of the site, with high-quality exposed concrete paired with wooden joinery and large glazed panels set directly into the ground plane.

INFORMATION

DP6 architectuurstudio