Featured Project
Villa Incognito

Joep Mollink faced a particular challenge when designing a villa in Haarlem in the Netherlands: The “Prinsen Bolwerk” park where the site is located was used back in the 15th century as part of the bulwark defending the city. Subterranean remains could have caused complications when constructing the new building. Luckily however, a school once stood on the 500-square-meter plot, and its foundations had survived – and it was on these that architect Joep Mollink sited the new build. The result is a home with a geometric structure and sculptural appearance.
 
Given that the park is accessible to the public, it was particularly important to the architects to shield the villa’s future residents from inquisitive eyes. An ideal solution, despite the building’s irregular form, was Petersen Tegl’s new brick product “Petersen Cover” in C71, a light-yellow color. The fluid transitions between roof and façade, both of which were clad in the same, handmade bricks, give rise to a harmonious overall impression. The rectangular openings in the cladding lend the villa a decorative touch and enable additional daylight to enter the interior. The bright and friendly impression of the bricks is underlined by a color-coordinated concrete base. (am)