Located on the hillside between Roskilde’s historic city center and the end of Roskilde Fjord.
The client wanted a villa that would maximize the potential of the plot’s scenic views while also integrating the surrounding greenery. The façades had to be maintenance-free.
Inside, the client wished to use natural and classic materials. They also requested that we design all interior furnishings, including the kitchen, bathrooms, wardrobes, etc. Sustainability was a key focus, and the client wanted an energy-efficient villa. Otherwise, they gave the architect full creative freedom, trusting in our professional expertise.
The villa spans 188 m², distributed over two floors of 94 m² each.
The ground floor contains the primary functions: utility room, entrance, and kitchen. Here, the emphasis is on the interaction between the house, the garden, and the orangery, ensuring that the lush surroundings are embraced and drawn into the home.
On the first floor, the focus is on the views: towards the horizon, the historic city center, the cathedral, the forest lake in the city park, and Roskilde Fjord. Architecturally, the design successfully frames and celebrates these remarkable local vistas in all four cardinal directions.
The villa was built as a modular construction, demonstrating that prefabricated building techniques can be applied to complex and exclusive villa designs. However, this requires the architect to have full insight into the prefab construction method to ensure success.
All interior furnishings were custom-designed by the architect and handcrafted by a carpenter. These were installed in the modules at the factory before being delivered to the site, ensuring precise and consistent high quality. The carpenter both built and installed the furnishings as a complete solution— a stark contrast to a typical installation process where a site-based installer assembles pieces made by different craftsmen.
The cost of the villa was higher than standard prefabricated homes but significantly lower than comparable architect-designed, traditionally built villas. Overall, the project remained within the client’s budget.
Five years later, the villa’s market value has increased by 225% compared to the original project cost. The client had three local real estate agents appraise the property for a private financial assessment.
Naturally, the client is very pleased with the increase in value, especially since profits from owner-occupied homes in Denmark are tax-free. As architects, we are proud to have designed a villa that has significantly appreciated in value— a strong indication that the architecture was well-suited to both the location and its intended use.
Ladegaard Architecture
Part of Ladegaard Group ApS