Villa Bussum | GROUP A

Villa Bussum, image courtesy of GROUP A

Villa Bussum, image courtesy of GROUP A

Dutch architectural firm GROUP A has completed the Villa Bussum located in Bussum, a small town near Amsterdam. The car-porch is located at the basement level where is reached via a sloping path, serving as a transitional space between front yard and back yard. It is covered by approx. 1/3 of an irregular volume, the villa appears to be floating on the ground.

+ Project description courtesy of  GROUP A

Villa Bussum, diagram courtesy of GROUP A

This private residence, completed in June 2009, is situated in a lush, leafy neighbourhood in Bussum, a small town near Amsterdam. The neighbourhood is known for its 19th century villas, designed in a vast array of revivalist styles. The design for the villa by GROUP A appears both modern and sculptural, and interacts in a natural way with its surroundings.

By using slanting walls and roofs the abstract building volume feels comfortably embedded in the landscape. At the same time, the villas sculptural character ensures that it fits in with the neighbourhoods monumental, sometimes even frivolous 19th century villas. The villas building type evolved from a simple rectangular volume, with a rotated pitched roof. Subsequently, segments were cut from this volume in order to create windows, terraces, balconies and entrances.

Villa Bussum, image courtesy of GROUP A

A cut-out corner facing the street in front of the house clearly indicates the main entrance. On the eastern side of the villa, a secluded garden and a second entrance can be found. A comfortable porch and a 15 meter wide panorama window face the garden at the back of the house, and double up as a transition between the villa and the garden.

Villa Bussum, image courtesy of GROUP A

Both gardens in front and at the back of the house are linked to each other by a sloping path. This descending path extends itself to underneath the cantilevering villa, thereby providing access for the basement floor.

Thus, the villa appears to be floating on air.

Villa Bussum - Site plan, drawing courtesy of GROUP A

Villa Bussum - Ground floor plan, drawing courtesy of GROUP A

Villa Bussum - 1st floor plan, drawing courtesy of GROUP A

Villa Bussum - Elevation, drawing courtesy of GROUP A

Villa Bussum - Sections, drawing courtesy of GROUP A

+ Project credits / data

Project: Villa Bussum
Type: Private Residence
Task description: Preliminary design, final design, technical design and specification, supervision
Architect: GROUP A
Team GROUP A: Philip Vencken, Folkert van Hagen, Maarten van Bremen, Adam Visser, Jos Overmars, Nolly Vos, Niclas Frenning, Davide Tommaso Ferrando, Daniël Gijsbers, Sander Peter Schuur
Location: Bussum
Country: the Netherlands
Start project: December 2005
End project: June 2009
Dimensions: 280 m2
Client: Withheld
Photography: Scagliola/Brakkee

+ All images and drawings courtesy of GROUP A | Photo by Scagliola/Brakkee