Sculptural form of community
Located just a few minutes walk from Aarhus Bay, the villa’s spectacular boomerang shape pushes the boundaries of residential architecture to a level that breaks with a traditional block system. Literally. Self-construction that is unlike any other home forms the framework for family life and community
Dansk tekst i bunden
Text and photo Lene Ostenfeldt
Featured in BØRSEN WEEKEND
Do you like coffee, do you like to travel, do you play sports, what does nature mean to you and who are you as a family when you are all together. Before the very first rough sketches of our future house took shape, the architectural firm made an effort to interview us as individualists and family, says Christian Moselund Hansen, co-owner of the construction company Aarhus Tømreren ApS, who now together with his wife Lotte Foged Pedersen, Head of IT Projects at Energi Danmark, and the couple’s three children, finally after a year can enjoy the result of their dream home they have built themselves. Well hidden in the middle of a classic residential area in Risskov north of Aarhus, the villa’s strict organic expression, reminiscent of the shape of a boomerang, attracts attention.
“It has been a great creative process for us. We lived a few roads further away, in a house we had completely renovated and thus gained experience with what succeeded, what we were happy about and what we missed, “says Christian,” we wanted to create a home with high to the ceiling, plenty of space for children and their energetic activities, we would have an insanely delicious kitchen and also nature right into the living room. It was important to us from the very beginning that our basic ideas and the finished home harmonized. Today, everyone can in principle design a house, but not everyone can, for example, optimize daylight in the home so that it is consistent and utilized optimally. I work every day with construction, renovation and restoration, but as an ordinary craftsman I fall short there. ” The couple chose to collaborate with the Copenhagen design studio AJG Arkitekter with Kasper Ax, who originally comes from Risskov, as close partnership. Based on many conversations and several inspirational presentations from the architect with all sorts of pictures of all that is of possibilities; from Teletubbies living under grass, to Spanish haciendas and homes with terraces on the roof, they traced themselves to the curved architecture. The first raw sketches were turned and based on the solar analyzes the architect made on the building site, so that a natural incidence of light was optimal and shadows minimized.
The interior distinctive style feature of the 287 square meters distributed on three levels, are the tall, narrow windows and the ceiling of curved moldings in Kerto strewn wood that continues to the eaves and emphasizes the house’s beautifully curved shape. The lists are set up, one by one, around a sound-insulating cloth that breaks the sound in the room. On the ground floor you enter the large combined kitchen, dinning room and common living room. Besides bathroom and utility room. Stairs lead up to ledge with the more private section with bedroom, three children’s rooms and bathroom. Width steps down from ground floor lead to a half basement; a large multi-room with space for children who tumble, guest room and wine cellar. Every detail costs both time and money, but because Christian himself has had the entire contract and the entire carpentry part of the construction, it is not the many hours that have decided the choices made along the way. The goal was perfection, a few good and consistent materials for an overall calm expression and at the same time there was not an infinite financial leeway.
The decor is a mix of Danish design classics, old and new. We like second-hand shops and flea markets, but we also like to be creative in other ways, ”says Lotte,“ I have made the large black and white painting in the frame of a piece of textile from Marimekko and leather hangers in the hallway, Christian has among others made the coffee table, the bathroom furniture and all shelving in children’s rooms. ”
If we are to give good advice to others who want to embark on building themselves, then it is that you have to be honest about your own ability, ”says Christian, find someone you can reach out for, because otherwise you burn out. It has been important to us that it has been a joint project as a family, even though it has primarily been me who has built. The idea of creating something that is not page 57 in any catalog is completely unique. We went away from the type house to create our own, it was a big mouthful, very time consuming and we have learned a lot, but now the dream is real. ”/
The tight organic shape is reminiscent of the shape of a boomerang. The surrounding garden is landscaped so it requires a minimum of maintenance. The large concrete tiles with pebbles in between are designed for the ground. The villa lined with Thermoask and Kolumba bricks from Petersen Tegl is located on the plot after the light. Between the windows, fins are inserted so that from the outside it looks as if they are arches. All exits have had first priority. In the summer, everything is open so everyone can be together all the time.
In the combined living room and kitchen, daylight pours in. The high floor-to-ceiling windows virtually erase the transition between inside and outside and integrate nature and sky. All electronics are so-called Smart House with codes. Lighting, alarms and underfloor heating panels are controlled from the phone.
It took a year, from the first sod to the finished villa. Christian Moselund Hansen and Lotte Foged Pedersen have built the villa in Risskov near Aarhus themselves.
The kitchen is a unique exhibition model from Garde Hvalsøe’s showroom. The table top is in incandescent steel that has been heated and oiled. Drawer fronts are in Douglas fir from Dinesen, the cabinet wall is covered with linoleum which is practical when you have children. Quooker and gun-metal. All appliances, steam oven, oven and wine refrigerator are from Gaggenau. Above the dining table are original Copenhagen lamps. The floor in raw concrete is cast directly on underfloor heating hoses as a workshop floor and sanded with matt epoxy. Y-chairs by Hans J. Wegner and table in solid wooden planks with brass frame, a gift from a renovation project in Aarhus city.
The villa is built with a focus on low energy. All floors on the ground floor are in raw concrete with underfloor heating.
A wide staircase acts as a fluid transition between the three levels and is intended as a piece of furniture and living space. The steps of the stairs are led to the living room where they function as a nice finesse and shelves for trinkets, photographs and cozy lighting.
Soft blue and pink shades are a nice contrast to the raw concrete floor. The coffee table was made by Christian Moselund Hansen.
In the multi-room in the basement there is room for the children to frolic and at the same time be a part of life in the kitchen. On the plateau you can sit on a pillow with a cup of coffee and follow the children’s play. The wine cellar for men’s linen is prepared so that it can become an extra room.
A cupboard module between the bedroom and the children’s room has been removed so it is easy to get into the family’s new baby brother. The module can be set up so that there will again be two separate rooms when the need arises. Floors in Dinesen Douglas.
Instead of breaking wall surfaces in the bathroom, skylights have been installed in the ceiling.
Luminaires are from Vola.
The windows from the bedrooms and children’s rooms can be opened. The traditional French balcony in iron or glass is here created from the same moldings in thermo-treated acacia as on the facade of the house. Exit from the multi-room in the basement is an original basement shaft that has been made larger with space for a fireplace, play equipment and cozy nook.
The traditional type house shapes are chosen from. The villa lined with Thermoask and Kolumba bricks from Petersen Tegl is located on the plot after the light. Between the windows, fins are inserted so that from the outside it looks as if they are arches. All exits have had first priority. In the summer, all is open so everyone can be together all the time.
The guest bathroom also has skylights and is kept in all white. Luminaire in matt black from Vola and a black-painted stool form a contrast.
All walls are slabs of either wood or brick that are not broken to windows. The transition between inside and outside flows together.
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Skulpturel form for fællesskab
Beliggende kun få minutters gang fra Aarhus bugt, skubber villaens opsigtsvækkende boomerang-form grænsen for bolig arkitektur til et niveau, der bryder med et traditionelt bloksystem. Bogstaveligt talt. Selvbyggeri der ikke ligner noget andet hjem, danner rammen for familieliv og fællesskab
Tekst og foto Lene Ostenfeldt
Kan I lide kaffe, kan I lide at rejse, dyrker I sport, hvad betyder naturen for jer og hvem er I som familie når I alle er samlet. Inden de allerførste grove skitser på vores kommende hus tog form, gjorde arkitektfirmaet meget ud af at spørge ind til os som individualister og familie, fortæller Christian Moselund Hansen, medejer af byggefirmaet Aarhus Tømreren ApS, der nu sammen med sin kone Lotte Foged Pedersen, Head of IT Projects hos Energi Danmark, og parrets tre børn, endelig efter et år kan nyde resultatet af den drømmebolig de selv har bygget. Godt gemt midt i et klassisk villakvarter i Risskov nord for Aarhus, vækker villaens stramme organiske udtryk der minder om formen på en boomerang, opmærksomhed.
” Det har været en stor kreativ proces for os. Vi boede et par veje længere væk, i et hus vi selv havde totalrenoveret og dermed fået en erfaring med hvad der lykkedes, altså hvad vi var glade for og hvad vi savnede, ” fortæller Christian, ” vi ønskede at skabe en bolig med højt til loftet, plads til børn og deres krudt der kan brændes af, vi ville have et sindssygt lækkert køkken og naturen helt ind i stuen. Det var helt fra starten vigtigt for os at vores grundlæggende ideer og det færdige hjem harmonerede. I dag kan alle i princippet tegne et hus, men det er ikke alle der for eksempel kan optimere dagslyset i boligen så det er gennemgående og udnyttes optimalt. Jeg arbejder hver dag med byggeri, renovering og restaurering, men som almindelig håndværker kommer jeg altså til kort der.” Parret valgte at samarbejde med den københavnske tegnestue AJG Arkitekter med Kasper Ax, der oprindeligt selv kommer fra Risskov, som tæt kontaktperson. Ud fra mange samtaler og flere inspirationsoplæg fra arkitekten med alverdens billeder af alt hvad der er af muligheder; fra Teletubbies der bor under græs, til spanske haciendaer og boliger med terrasse på taget, sporede de sig ind på den krumme arkitektur. De første råskitser blev vendt og drejet ud fra de sol-analyser arkitekten lavede på grunden, så et naturligt lysindfald blev optimalt og skygger minimeret.
Det indvendige markante stiltræk på de 287 kvadratmeter fordelt på tre plan, er de høje, smalle vinduer og loftet af buede lister i Kerto strøer træ der fortsætter til udhænget og understreger husets smukt buede form. Listerne er sat op, én efter én, omkring en lydisolerende dug der slår lyden i rummet itu. I stueplan træder man ind i det store kombinerede køkken, stue og fælles opholdsrum. Desuden er her badeværelse og bryggers. Trappetrin fører op til repos med den mere private afdeling med soveværelse, tre børneværelser og badeværelse. Bredde trin ned fra stueplan fører til en halv kælder; et stort multirum med plads til børn der tumler, gæsteværelse og vinkælder. Enhver detalje koster både tid og penge, men fordi Christian selv har haft hele entreprisen og hele tømrerdelen af byggeriet, er det ikke de mange timer der har afgjort de valg der er taget undervejs. Målet var perfektion, få gode og gennemgående materialer for et overordnet roligt udtryk og samtidig var der ikke et uendeligt økonomisk råderum.
Indretningen er en blanding af danske designklassikere, gammelt og nyt. Vi kan godt lide genbrugsbutikker og loppemarkeder, men vi kan også lide at være kreative på andre måder, ” fortæller Lotte, ” jeg har lavet det store sort-hvide maleri i ramme af et stykke tekstil fra Marimekko og læderknager i entreen, Christian har blandt andet lavet sofabordet, badeværelsesmøbler og reoler på børneværelser. ”
Hvis vi skal give et godt råd til andre der vil kaste sig ud i at bygge selv, så er det at man skal være ærlig omkring sin egen formåen, ” siger Christian, ” man skal kende sine begrænsninger og finde nogen der kan tage én i hånden undervejs, for ellers brænder man ud. Det har været vigtigt for os at det har været et fælles projekt som familie, selvom det primært har været mig der har bygget. Ideen om at skabe noget der ikke er side 57 i et eller andet katalog er helt unik. Vi gik væk fra typehuset for at skabe vores eget, det var en stor mundfuld, særdeles tidskrævende og vi har lært meget, men nu er drømmen virkelig .” /
Villaens stramme organiske form minder om formen på en boomerang. Haven omkring er anlagt så den kræver et minimum af vedligehold. De store fliser i beton med småsten imellem er designet til grunden. Alle vægge er skiver i enten træ eller mursten der ikke er brudt at vinduer. Indgangspartiet er med hoveddør og modsat adgang til garage og værksted.
I det kombinerede opholdsrum og køkken vælter dagslyset ind. De høje gulv til loft vinduer nærmest sletter overgangen mellem inde og ude og integrerer natur og himmel. Alt elektronik er såkaldt Smart House med koder. Belysning, alarmer og gulvvarmepaneler styres fra telefonen.
Det tog et år, fra første spadestik til færdig villa. Christian Moselund Hansen og Lotte Foged Pedersen har selv bygget villaen i Risskov ved Aarhus.
Køkkenet er en unika udstillingsmodel fra Garde Hvalsøes showroom. Bordpladen er i glødestål der er varmet op og olieret. Skuffefronter er i douglasfyr fra Dinesen, skabsvæggen er beklædt med linoleum der er praktisk når man har børn. Quooker i gun-metal. Over spisebordet originale københavner lamper. Gulvet i råt beton er støbt direkte på gulvvarmeslanger som et værkstedgulv og slebet med mat epoxy. Y-stole af Hans J. Wegner og bord i massive træplanker med messingstel, en foræring fra et renoveringsprojekt i Århus by.
Det smukt buede loft fremhæver arkitekturen og et kompromisløst valg af materialer. Stue, køkken og opholdsrum giver fællesskab for familien selv hver er optaget af sit eget. Villaen er bygget med fokus på lavenergi. Alle gulve i stueplan er i råt beton med gulvvarme.En bred trappe fungerer som flydende overgang mellem de tre niveauer og er tænkt som et møbel og opholdssted. Trappens trin er ført hen i stuedelen hvor de fungerer som flot finesse og hylder for nips, fotografier og hyggebelysning.
I multirummet i kælderen er der plads til at børnene kan boltre sig og samtidig være en del af livet i køkkenet. På plateauet kan man sidde på en pude med en kop kaffe og følge børnenes leg. Vinkælderen til mandehørm er forberedt så det kan blive et ekstra værelse. Udgang fra multirummet i kælderen er en oprindelig kælderskakt der er blevet gjort større med plads til bålsted, legeredskaber og hyggekrog.
Der er fjernet et skabsmodul mellem soveværelse og børneværelse så det er nemt at komme ind til familiens helt nye lillebror. Modulet kan sættes op så der igen bliver to separate værelser når behovet opstår. Gulve i Dinesen Douglas.
I stedet for at bryde vægflader i badeværelset er der sat ovenlys i loftet. Armaturer er fra Vola.
Vinduespartierne fra sove- og børneværelser kan åbnes. Den traditionelle franske altan i jern eller glas er her skabt af samme lister i thermobehandlet aksetræ som på husets facade.
Gæstebadeværelset har også ovenlys og er holdt i helt hvidt. Armatur i mat sort fra Vola og en sortmalet taburet danner kontrast.
Det indvendige listeloft går igen under udhænget. Overgangen mellem inde og ude flyder sammen.
/ LeO