The angular surfaces of the iconic US F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter plane has influenced the design of this new holiday home. It is located on a former World War II airfield.
During the war, everything at Fliegerhorst Deelen airfield on Koningsweg was about camouflage. From the air, the bunkers, hangars and lodgings of the German officers most closely resembled farms. That way, the occupying forces prevented them from being bombed by the Allies. With this theme in mind, now, more than 75 years later, 11 follies (a derivative of the word 'foolness') have been realised in the forest. Buildings with unusual architecture that fool man or beast in some way, just like the camouflaged buildings in WWII.
'Under the Radar' was designed by Sander van Schaik in collaboration with Robert-Jan de Kort and is located on the Buitenplaats Koningsweg estate. A number of buildings were built on the property after the war. One of these is the Radar Tower,a modest building that was used as a training building for the Radar School. On its roof was an impressive radar installation - a huge steel structure - with the characteristic antenna as its highest point.
Near the Radar Tower, on an open field among the trees, now stands 'Under the Radar'. With its matte-black, faceted exterior, the house bears similarities to the 'F-117 Nighthawk': the iconic fighter jet developed in the 1980s that could use stealth technology to remain invisible to radar.
Under the Radar has an area of 48 square metres, spread over three floors. It consists of a lightweight structure made of steel and a wooden facade covered with rubber. Due to its lightweight design, it needs no foundation, but is anchored with screw piles. This is less destructive than typical concrete foundations, allowing it to be placed next to some trees that provide shade.
Much of the ground floor is taken up by the living area, with plenty of seating and a dining table. There is also a kitchen, a bathroom and several bedrooms. Due to its black rubber façade, Stay Under the Radar heats up quite quickly when exposed to sunlight. To mitigate this, the architects placed openings and slatted floor panels to ensure unobstructed airflow.
