Villa Bie is a bespoke home created by American-Danish Architects MLRP for a private client. The firm aims to push design boundaries by exploring solutions to create innovative and sustainable designs. This design embodies these philosophies.
The property is located facing the Øresund and has been created at an angle using an abundance of glass and timber cladding to create the impression that the structure has grown organically out of the ground.
The architects comment: “The conceptual idea arose from the restrictions that were laid out by the very strict local planning authorities, which would only allow one and a half floors and a gabled roof. We wanted a landscaped house and the homeowner wanted something unique. This way the house reinterprets the Danish building tradition in a radical new way.”
Egil Rosnes of Profftre AS adds: “From a design perspective Villa Bie is an exceptional project which really pushes the boundaries of design.”
The design team wanted to ensure that only sustainable materials were used in the project and distributors Profftre As of Norway recommended using Accoya wood.
650m² of Accoya cladding has been applied to the exterior of the property. The cladding profile comprises 235mm widths and 4800mm lengths. It has been assembled in both vertical and horizontal directions, mounted securely using tongue and groove assembly.
Sourcing sustainable timber
When looking to include dramatic timber cladding, such as in this project, it is worth considering a product’s sustainable credentials. Wood from well-managed sources is a natural, renewable solution for global environmental problems such as climate change, ecosystem destruction and landscape deterioration caused by increasing consumption. Look for certifications such as FSC and PEFC, which prove the timber has been ethically sourced, and make sure the product is compliant with the European Union Timber Regulation.
For example, the Accoya cladding used here has several sustainable advantages. It is manufactured in a non-toxic process that adds nothing to the wood that does not already naturally occur in it. The wood is fully reusable and recyclable, and can be safely incinerated for bio-energy.
Before ordering sustainably certified timber, the FSC recommend that you ensure the certificate is authentic. You can check the FSC certificate number online via the FSC International Certificate Database – if it doesn’t appear then contact the supplier for clarification. If the product does appear on the FSC database, check that the data shown on the dataset matches that of your supplier, including the name and address. Make sure that the certificate is currently valid, as sometimes they can be suspended, and that it covers the exact product you are looking to buy.
