The raw concrete forms a beautiful contrast to the green hills on the outskirts of Aarhus

This functional villa on the outskirts of Aarhus is located on a winding plot of natural beauty, which borders the forest. The architectural concept is a folded slice, which means that you arrive at the house on a single level, while the house opens out onto the garden on two levels. The house seems dynamic and interacts with the grounds: with a sloping roof and horizontal lines, which create a very private space, while respecting the countryside.

The building’s core element and the supporting architectural concept inside the house is a 14.5-metre wall, clad with oiled oak veneer. The wall serves not only as a decorative element, which lends visual warmth and a beautiful texture to the house, but also as base for the kitchen fixtures and fittings, a seating niche and the living room bookshelf. The veneer wall creates a very special meditative atmosphere and you can spot clear references, not only to Scandinavian countryside and building tradition, but also to Japanese culture.

All the floors are surfaced with polished concrete and the raw look proceeds to the ceiling, for which perforated, acoustic, plaster was chosen. Large floor to ceiling windows let in the light and the countryside, creating a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors. On the end wall of the living room a window has been cut, which indicates the thickness of the wall, thus assuming the character of a painting. The two children’s rooms on the lower floor have a view of the garden, while the master bedroom is pulled back into the house.

One particular characteristic of the house is the juxtaposition of various materials. Stone and concrete lend a rawness and texture to the house, while the wooden wall provides warmth and depth, and the plaster panels make for a decorative acoustic ceiling.