Villa Kogelhof by Paul de Ruiter Architects

Sleek and Sustainable

If your idea of sustainable living conjures up images of ramshackle farmhouses with free roaming pigs and disproportionately large wind turbines you should take a look at this futuristic villa designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects.

From a distance the two-storey structure looks like a spaceship has landed in the middle of the polders of the Netherlands, the straight lines of the fields neatly mirrored by the rectilinear form of the building.  The main entrance and carpark are located unobtrusively at the basement of the villa.  The stairwell acts as the main support of the elevated glass box which contains the living areas, its wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape which has been transformed with the planting of over 70,000 trees and the installation of a large pond.

The villa is designed to be completely energy self-sufficient, thanks to 280 square metres of solar panels on the roof as well as smart features such as "water roofs" which filter natural light to the lower floors and a custom-designed cooling system.  The futuristic theme continues with the interior design scheme, which has been kept super minimal.

This is a post-modern machine for living which is utterly in tune with nature.

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Paul de Ruiter Architects

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Product Inspiration

A high-tech, futuristic space calls for sleek, high-performance furniture.  The Snaregade table from Menu is a graphic expression of the beauty of lines, as is the stunningly simple Softer Than Steel chair designed by Nendo for Desalto.  For a slightly softer but no less futuristic look check out the Kant bar stool designed by Karim Rashid for Casamania.

For super high-tech lighting look no further than the OLED lights from Blackbody, such as the impressive Flying Ribbon suspension light.  Alternatively the Standard Pendant lamp from Menu is a slick and glassy interpretation of traditional industrial style lamps whilst the Table Tower table light from Frederik Roije is beautifully slick and minimalist.

Sometimes even minimalist design schemes can do with a flamboyant flourish, such as the brassy Tip Top waste paper bin from Ghidini 1961 or the Dish of Desire bird feeding table from Frederik Roije.  For something more understated try the Kaschkasch floor mirror from Menu.