Villa Petersen

Study House 2 explores the modern home’s transition between interior and exterior. Rather than presenting fluid spaces, the design orchestrates consciously guided views, pauses, and deliberately composed transitions—from interior rooms to inner courtyards and covered areas, extending seamlessly into the outdoor spaces.

Situated in a large, older summer house area with views over Roskilde Fjord, the site is elevated and exposed to the fjord’s winds. The terrain drops 4–5 meters, and a legal covenant imposes a strict height limit, preventing construction above a certain level. The solution is a building that follows the height-limit plane and the slope of the site.

FOUR FUNCTIONAL UNITS

The building is placed as a square volume at the top of the site, divided into four functional units, unified by a large roof that encompasses the outer sides of the square.

The spaces between the units form deliberate transitions – interior spaces such as the kitchen and living area, alongside sheltered outdoor spaces in the form of a courtyard and covered terraces.

MATERIALS EMPHASISE TRANSITIONS

The main structure is a timber construction clad with larch wood planks. The planks are horizontal on the outer sides of the square volume and vertical in the transition zones – within the courtyard and under the covered areas. To emphasize the transitions, the horizontal sections are painted black, while the vertical sections appear in oiled larch.

Literature:
ARKITEKTUR DK no. 3, 2010
“50 Award Winning House”,
LST Publishing House, 2010, CH
“Nye Enfamiliehuse”, Arkitektens Forlag, 2010

Photo: Adam Mørk

Culture

Transformation

Public

Private

Planning