Villa Sculptura by Atelier van Lieshout

Spatial design

A giant orange blob may soon be added to the Utrecht skyline, courtesy of Atelier van Lieshout.

By Cassandra Pizzey / 20-01-2011

In it's first private housing project to date, Atelier van Lieshout is taking an experimental approach to the sale of Villa Sculptura.

Instead of building the villa to sell, it's the plans for Villa Sculptura (alongside planning permission and a plot of land) which are up for grabs.

The design for the house is part of an earlier scheme by Utrecht City Council; an art programme named House for Sale. In 2006, plans were drawn up for a house which should have special meaning and would be an addition to the Leidsche Rijn neighborhood. Back then much interest was generated for a villa designed by Atelier van Lieshout. This, its first private residence, forms a logical follow-up to some of the company's earlier work such mobile homes and workspaces.

Once acquired, the plans for the house can be adjusted to the wishes of the buyer - together with Atelier van Lieshout of course. The existing plans are for a floor space of 275 m2 set over three storeys, but the buyer may choose to halve that amount. Also the choice of contractor and interior is completely up to the buyer. But why take this experimental approach? Joep van Lieshout: "It's important the house fits the new residents like a glove. This means working together with the client to satisfy their wishes."

And what of the design itself? No high-tech, computer-generated imagages here. The hand-drawn blobs and protrusions which give the house its shape show Van Lieshout's resistance to the technology trend. The design fits seamlessly into Atelier van Lieshout's design aesthetic, with its almost organic yet brightly colored appearance. Built around a steel frame filled with polyurethane foam for extra isolation, the villa's exterior will be hand-sculpted by Joep van Lieshout.

The house is aimed at the art-loving public who wants to live near Utrecht and Amsterdam. But with a price tag of over a million euros, only a lucky few will be participating in the bidding war.

Click on the images to enlarge

Main image: Villa Sculptura
Other images top to bottom: 1. Villa Sculptura 2. Front view 3. First floor 4. Top view