CEBRA forms danish seaside villa as angular inhabitable sculpture with undulating roof

architecture studio CEBRA has completed a seaside residence in denmark wrapped in angular cutout facades and topped by an undulating roof. the structure is formed to respond to the specific site conditions, offering expansive views over the aarhus bay while also sheltering itself from the weather. the villa’s distinctive exterior makes it appear as an inhabitable sculpture that takes on a different shape depending on your point of view.

all images courtesy of mikkel frost

the aim of the design by CEBRA architects is to utilize this location and life by the sea with the vast horizon as an everchanging backdrop. the interior is divided into two overall functional sections, each occupying one level of the two-story residence. the lower level contains ancillary functions such as storage, technical and utility rooms, as well the main entrance and the garage. upon entering the villa, a circular opening to the garage frames views to the client’s car collection. from this base, a staircase leads up to the primary living spaces and directly into the heart of the residence; a large, elevated space that connects to protected outdoor areas facing north and south. this central space contains the kitchen-dining area and living room, which are flanked by two enclosed private wings oriented towards the access road to the west and the neighboring villa to the east, respectively.

the upper floor plan layout is a response to the typical dilemma accompanying seaside plots – balancing the wish for openness to maximize views with the desired level for privacy. each of the two flanking wings forms an enclosed unit, shielding both the private areas within and the central space in between. the western unit is laid out as guest or children’s wing with one bedroom and adjoining bathroom, whereas the eastern wing contains the master bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom with direct access to the outside.

the roof serves as the most distinctive and spatially defining element of the villa. it almost glides over the central living space while tightly wrapping down the sides to anchor the villa on the plot. it not only covers the indoor areas but protrudes to the north and south to create sheltering eaves. the eaves reduce the thermal stress on the central space’s glass facades and create generous roofed outdoor areas protected from the elements. to create a varying spatial experience and to subdivide the large living space into zones of different ceiling heights, the roof undulates along contrapuntal lines. the resulting curved planes and stringent arches create a sculptural and vivid signature for the villa, continuously changing the appearance of the building as you move around it.

inside and outside the residence is characterized by two contrasting material palettes, defining the exterior and interior, respectively. on the outside, the facades of the wings consist of a unique colour-mix of classic danish kolumba bricks. as a reference to the beach, the sand remaining from the manufacturing process has been preserved on the bricks, giving the facades a tactile surface quality. the brick facades form a robust and weatherproof shell around the light and transparent heart of the residence as modern interpretation of one of denmark’s oldest and most prevalent building materials. the shape of the villa is unique and expressive yet built with traditional and natural materials. contrasting the dark red brown colours of the exterior, the interior finishes create a light and welcoming atmosphere with warm wooden details, most distinctively on the undulating roof’s underside. all floors, both inside and outside, are covered with norwegian slate that creates coherence throughout the different spaces and harmonizes with both the interior and exterior color palettes.

project info:

name: strandvillaen
designer: CEBRA architecture
location: denmark

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom