Architectural Residence H

An Architectural Gem with a Theatrical Garden

It doesn't get better than this. The dream house of a choreographer (Jan van Opstal) and a theater director (Jo Willems), who also work as landscape architects, this vacation home rental in Maastricht is a uniquely creative architectural project, surrounded in grounds that are a work of art in themselves.

Designed in collaboration with Wiel Arets Architects, the property is a loft-like space that dazzles in white, and is wrapped in "glass skin". Its combination of transparent and opaque glass walls and soft curtains can be opened and closed in response to daylight and seasons.

An open-plan space, it has no interior walls, but concrete columns support the structural slabs and harmonize with the neutral palette. We love the freestanding staircase, conceived as an independent piece of sculpture, that drops down from the central mezzanine, almost reaching the white cubes and polished floor below it. The house is minimally furnished, in blacks and whites, and cool features include the angular, freestanding bath in the master bedroom.

The surrounding gardens are an added bonus. Reflecting the owners' theatrical backgrounds, they are laid out like a stage set. Divided into "rooms" each with its own plot, they feature soft sculptural trees and bushes, with a rectangular pond that takes center stage.

It's a dynamic open-air theater that's constantly changing and full of surprise elements. The garden has been featured in The Gardener's Garden, a book of 250 must-see gardens around the world. It has been used for public events and exhibitions, including one for renowned glass artist Bert van Loo, two of whose designs reside permanently in the grounds.

This vacation home rental in Maastricht has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a fully-equipped gourmet kitchen. It sleeps up to four guests comfortably, and is pet-friendly. The lower level consists of movable units that can be used for storage, and curtains on movable tracks that can create different interior spaces. There is a roof terrace on top of the front entryway.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

The garden is available for events.

AROUND

The house is located in a quiet, hilly suburb of the town of Maastricht, near the border with Belgium. It's only 10 minutes from the historical, cultural and gastronomic heart of the city, the golf course and the university.

Maastricht is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands, making it historically interesting, with attractions that include remnants of medieval city walls, an early 18th-century fortress, and a network of underground tunnels that run for several miles under the city's fortifications. Other sights worth visiting include the Romanesque Basilica of Saint Servatius, and the old masters and modern art at the Bonnefantenmuseum in the Céramique district. And don't forget a cruise down the river Meuse.

LOCATION

Maastricht, Netherlands. Nearest airport: Maastricht (10 minutes by car).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year round. The garden changes with the seasons.