EVA Architecten took the long view when designing Villa IJsselzig, a modern home optimized for energy efficiency and durability. Set next to the river Hollandse Ijssel, the villa respects the neighboring buildings by adapting a similar form while quietly standing out with its distinctly contemporary design. The home’s green building strategies include solar panels, a heat pump, and carefully positioned openings that reduce unwanted solar gain.
Topped with a dark copper roof and reddish-brown bricks, Villa IJsselzig was built to appear as a singular sculptural mass. The river-facing facade to the north is left mostly transparent with full-height glazing that wraps around the communal areas while the home’s opposite side on the south is mostly closed off from view and protected by a garden for privacy. The placement of these openings and orientation also mitigate solar gain, particularly unwanted heat build-up from the south, and are supplemented by extra-insulated walls.
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In contrast to its dark facade, the interior, designed in collaboration with NEST architects, features a lighter palette. The interior is organized around a wooden core surrounded by white walls. The wooden core contains the staircases, storerooms, and other facilities thus opening up the other rooms to flexible open-plan use. The living spaces are located on the ground floor whereas all the bedrooms are placed on the upper floor and overlook the river.
Via Dwell
Photos by Sebastian van Damme
