5 villas Zuidhorn

Zuidhorn, The Netherlands

On the western periphery of the village of Zuidhorn, as the termination of an expansion plan, a park has been realized between the Van Starkenborgh canal and the Hoendiep water. The construction of 5 villas was a component of the park design. The villas stand as ‘outposts’ in the park, thus creating a gentle transition from the village rim to the surrounding landscape.

The 5 villas were designed as an ode to the black horse. Ensconced in the sand, these ‘built’ horses look out across the new park. Besides their exceptional expressiveness, the great merit of these horse-houses lies in the attractive spaces that are optimally oriented to both the park and their own gardens.

The houses are specifically suited to the location. There is a terrace on the park side, an open façade on the garden side, an entrance and a carport on the street side, and a closed standing feature to mark the property partitioning. In the interior, optimum use is made of the roof form and the materialization of the wooden main load-bearing construction.