dmvA: VMVK house, antwerp, belgium

‘VMVK house’ by dmvA, sint-katelijne-waver, antwerp, belgiumimage © frederik vercruysse

all images courtesy of dmvA

the town of sint-katelijne-waver is the center for market gardening in the province of antwerp and home of the largest cooperative vegetable auction in europe. the ‘VMVK house’ is sited within the greenery of nete-valley and close to prominent vegetable district of mechelen. although the countryside is characterized by an abundance of rustic greenhouses, the architects exploited the potential idiosyncrasies of rural architecture by way of material and hipped roof structure. the gable-less form is usually symmetrically pitched, but the belgian residence thwarts the roof’s trapezoids by exaggerating the slope of the fascia and carving a glazed terrace into the ridge. unbound by style, local architects dmvA continued their characteristically process-driven design for the private home with a corrugated metal skin. the white-laquered metal envelope elevates the architecture to a strong graphic within the picturesque woods. living spaces are relegated to the upper floors, so that the users can choose to make the most of the splendid terrace views while the form’s unusual materials and dramatic angles frame a unembellished break from the landscape.

glazing and an symmeterical roof line work to create a break from the landscape image © frederik vercruysse

image © frederik vercruysse

laquered metal streamlines the form’s quirky geometry image © frederik vercruysse

the angled fascia references greenhouses image © frederik vercruysse

image © frederik vercruysse

image © frederik vercruysse

white interiors complete the streamlined angles image © frederik vercruysse

bathroom interiors image © frederik vercruysse

a spiral staircase leads to the terrace image © frederik vercruysse

generous apertures provide ample natural light image © frederik vercruysse

idiosyncratic pitches inform the interior spacesimage © frederik vercruysse

dining space image © frederik vercruysse

image © frederik vercruysse

the terrace ruptures the roof symmetry image © frederik vercruysse

site plan