
'VMVK house' by dmvA, sint-katelijne-waver, antwerp, belgium
image © frederik vercruysse
all images courtesy of dmvA
the town of sint-katelijne-waver is the center for market gardening in the province of antwerp and home of the largest cooperative vegetable auction
in europe. the 'VMVK house' is sited within the greenery of nete-valley and close to prominent vegetable district of mechelen. although the countryside is
characterized by an abundance of rustic greenhouses, the architects exploited the potential idiosyncrasies of rural architecture by way of material and
hipped roof structure. the gable-less form is usually symmetrically pitched, but the belgian residence thwarts the roof's trapezoids by exaggerating the
slope of the fascia and carving a glazed terrace into the ridge. unbound by style, local architects dmvA continued their characteristically process-driven design
for the private home with a corrugated metal skin. the white-laquered metal envelope elevates the architecture to a strong graphic within the picturesque woods.
living spaces are relegated to the upper floors, so that the users can choose to make the most of the splendid terrace views while the form's unusual materials and
dramatic angles frame a unembellished break from the landscape.

glazing and an symmeterical roof line work to create a break from the landscape
image © frederik vercruysse

image © frederik vercruysse

laquered metal streamlines the form's quirky geometry
image © frederik vercruysse

the angled fascia references greenhouses
image © frederik vercruysse

image © frederik vercruysse

image © frederik vercruysse

white interiors complete the streamlined angles
image © frederik vercruysse

bathroom interiors
image © frederik vercruysse

a spiral staircase leads to the terrace
image © frederik vercruysse

generous apertures provide ample natural light
image © frederik vercruysse

idiosyncratic pitches inform the interior spaces
image © frederik vercruysse

dining space
image © frederik vercruysse

image © frederik vercruysse

the terrace ruptures the roof symmetry
image © frederik vercruysse
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