- Project: L.A. Villa
- Architect: N+P ARKITEKTUR
- Location: Denmark, Højbjerg
- Year: 2017
- Area: 340 m2
- Photography: Courtesy of N+P Arkitektur
L.A. Villa by N+P Arkitektur occupies a steep site in Højbjerg (Aarhus region). Across 340 m², the house turns topography into design logic—carving volumes, layering terraces, and resolving precise material junctions to anchor the home while opening it to light and views. Within an established neighborhood, the project negotiates privacy and openness so that immersive terraces, voids, and carved forms yield a dwelling that is dynamic in plan yet calm in presence.
Concept & Volumetric Composition
The design begins with a simple rectangular mass that is carved and folded to form terraces, voids, and transitional zones. Rather than adding façade elements, material is subtracted to draw daylight and air to the core. An interplay of solids and voids sets up a tension between mass and transparency; horizontal planes cantilever while vertical walls recess or pierce—allowing the house to breathe and extend into the garden.
Robust concrete slabs anchor the volume to the slope. A stair sequence wraps the structure, stepping through levels and stitching outdoor terraces into the daily circulation.
Materials, Texture & Light
A restrained palette underpins the architecture: brickwork provides texture and weight; cedar cladding warms thresholds; concrete contributes structure and thermal mass; and copper accents with slim metal profiles refine openings and details. Daylight is carefully orchestrated—generous glazing pulls light deep into the plan while voids and terraces break the mass; shaded recesses temper glare. At dusk, interior illumination traces the carved geometry and surfaces.
Spatial Flow & Interior Experience
The main level is conceived as a continuous sequence rather than compartments. Living, dining, and kitchen areas remain directly connected to terraces and views; the kitchen is slightly recessed behind partial walls to preserve flow while offering intimacy. Stair loops hug façades and voids, creating pauses and framed vistas; private rooms settle into sheltered wings with controlled daylight and privacy. Interior finishes echo the exterior ethos—timber ceilings and floors, exposed concrete, and finely detailed transitions ensure material continuity and tactile coherence.
Responding to Context & Climate
Orientation maximizes daylight and views while shielding from coastal winds. Terraces and voids act as thermal buffers, and deep overhangs with recessed glazing provide passive shading. Natural ventilation moves through the carved geometry, while the concrete’s thermal mass moderates temperature swings. Durable brick, treated cedar, and weathering metals are calibrated for long-term performance in Danish conditions.
An Icon of Scandinavian Carved Architecture
The villa distills contemporary Danish residential values—bold yet context-sensitive and disciplined in material expression. Through careful carving, measured detailing, and layered spatial sequences, N+P Arkitektur delivers a home that is expressive and grounded. Exterior spaces extend the interior program, supporting daily routines and social moments across shifting weather conditions; detailing remains consistent from brick bonding to thin metal reveals, reinforcing the clarity of the idea. In its synthesis of terrain, material, and light, the composition reads as a unified whole—carved, layered, and resolved.
