In the countryside near Sint-Oedenrode, a remarkable villa has emerged. The house has two distinct faces: the front, facing the road, features a low and relatively closed façade, reflecting the rural barns in the area and ensuring privacy. Toward the rear, the structure opens up into a tall façade of glass and slim wooden frames, rhythmically interrupted by wooden panels. From here, the residents enjoy a stunning view of the surrounding nature reserve and the Dommel River.
Architect Rolf Reichardt of RHAW architecture designed the villa together with residents Marieke Jansen and Jaap Maas. ‘Villa Ventura’ is built using untreated materials: steel, wood, glass, and a concrete floor. The entire exterior is made of Platowood — including the window frames. The street-facing front is clad with rough Platowood Spruce. while the rear combines Platowood Fraké cladding with Platowood Fraké frames.
Rolf Reichardt: "Begin 2000 heb ik voor het eerst kennisgemaakt met Platowood. Ik was op zoek naar verduurzaamd hout dat zich goed houdt zonder schilderwerk. Platowood is het beste product op de markt. Er wordt niets aan toegevoegd, het hout wordt verduurzaamd met alleen warmte en stoom. Dit past heel goed bij het uitgangspunt dat wij bij alle projecten willen doorvoeren: zo puur en onbewerkt mogelijke materialen inzetten. Ook vind ik het heel tof dat je inmiddels alles met Platowood kunt maken."
Marieke Jansen:“Together with the architect, we searched for the right materials. We wanted to use untreated wood and liked the idea of it greying naturally. We requested samples, and the architect had a piece of Platowood Spruce that had been lying in his garden for seven years — it gave a great impression of the end result. The Platowood Spruce on the street side was left rough, so the wood wasn't planed. You can even still see the lines from the straps. This was inspired by the Japanese philosophy of embracing imperfection. The rough wood contrasts beautifully with the sleek Fraké used at the back.”
Read more about this project and view the photos on the project page..