‘Stay Under the Radar’ is a holiday home in Buitenplaats Koningsweg, Netherlands, which used to be an old military base on the edge of the De Hoge Veluwe National Park. Designed by Sander van Schaik and Robert-Jan de Kort, its angular matte-black structure is inherited from the design of the F117 Nighthawk, a stealth aircraft known for its angular profile and matte-black finish. The retreat is an award-winning architecture that reveals the hidden military history of the country in an artistic way.
Germans during World War II created the military sites at Buitenplaats Koningsweg and camouflaged many buildings on the site as farms. However, in recent years, the site has been transformed into a ‘cultural enclave’ where many artists and creative individuals reside and work. The homes are hidden among the woods and ‘Stay Under the Radar’ is among the 11 small vacation homes that offer a glorious escape amidst nature.
This holiday home is slightly elevated on steel decking to ensure minimal disturbance to the soil and surroundings. However, what is captivating is the bizarre profile that is modeled on stealth aircraft. With its matte-black EPDM façade, the building looks mysterious and the folded-down fiberglass open mesh greetings around make it appear like an aircraft just landed on the forest floor.
Inside, the black steel profiles are left exposed, lending the interior an industrial touch. It is functional with a kitchen, a bathroom, a seating area, bedrooms and two vent openings that provide unobstructed airflow. Employing a low-tech building technique, the retreat is made livable and comfortable.
The ground level has an open and large seating where guests can relax and have a good time while looking out for nature, whereas the floor-to-ceiling windows bestow good views and ample sunlight. There is also a kitchen with adequate storage for cutleries and appliances for cooking scrumptious meals. The bathroom is elsewhere with a shower, a toilet, a vanity sink, and adequate storage.
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Snug bedrooms are on the upper level, accessed via stairs from the kitchen. There are three single beds and a queen-size bed on the last level. The rooms are outfitted with hooks for hanging stuff and tiny windows from where natural light pours in. Onto the last level where the skylights keep the space bright and offer views of the starry sky and waving trees.
Stay Under the Radar unearths the past in the most creative and unprecedented way. You not only rejoice in the present but you also smell the history of warfare wafting in the air. Sleeping five people, this holiday home is available to rent on Airbnb at $557 for a night.
