dmvA: VMVK house, antwerp, belgium
an asymmetrical roof and gutter line break this antwerp residence from the idyllic landscape while allowing it to speak to the vernacular greenhouse architectonics.
‘VMVK house’ by dmvA, sint-katelijne-waver, antwerp, belgiumimage © 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 spacesimage © frederik vercruysse
dining space image © frederik vercruysse
image © frederik vercruysse
the terrace ruptures the roof symmetry image © frederik vercruysse
site plan
