Villa Gug By BIG In Aalborg, Denmark

Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, Villa Gug curves in a loop around the top of a small hill, framing a central courtyard that functions as a private garden. This snail-shaped dwelling in Aalborg, Denmark has been specifically configured to contain and showcase the client’s range of high-end automobiles. The form of the 750-square-metre building will create an extension of the driveway. The first section is proposed as a glazed garage that showcases the cars, but the loop then continues to provide the bedrooms and living spaces of the family home.

Villa Gug curves in a loop around the top of a small hill, framing a central courtyard that functions as a private garden

Access is done through what looks like a traditional garage door, but which is actually the start of the house, shaped very much like a wide concrete hallway. The hallway moves up the hills and curves, spilling into separate parking spaces that, from the outside, are seen like cubicles that hold individual vehicles. It then loops and becomes the main family home, with each room offering great views to these cubicles; they’re also visible from the exterior relaxation areas. In total, the house offers a living space of 840 square meters (9,041 square feet), which combines parking spots and living areas.

“In Villa Gug, the clients’ passion for cars plays a significant role in the family life, taking up a significant portion of the housing area,” said BIG in a statement. “Instead of hiding the vehicle away in a basement, or a large garage, we suggest a house that smoothly turns from car to home… The building’s character gradually changes from an introverted garage and showroom at the driveway to the more open functions, including kitchen, living room, and terrace on the top of the building,”

”The building’s character gradually changes from an introverted garage and showroom at the driveway to the more open functions, including kitchen, living room, and terrace on the top of the building”