Villa BaZ by SeARCH: A Sustainable Reinvention of Coastal Modernism in Bergen aan Zee

A Contemporary Seaside Villa Rooted in Heritage

Nestled in the picturesque village of Bergen aan Zee, The Netherlands, Villa BaZ by SeARCH redefines coastal living through a design philosophy of restraint, sensitivity, and sustainability. The 500-square-meter residence, completed in 2024 and photographed by Stijn Poelstra, stands as a respectful reimagination of a 1952 seaside home originally designed by architect N. Byl.

Surrounded by the Natura 2000 dunes, 7,500 hectares of protected landscapes filled with heather and pine forests, Bergen aan Zee remains one of the most idyllic seaside villages in the country. Yet, this natural beauty has often clashed with the rise of oversized, ostentatious new builds. Villa BaZ counters this trend — offering a thoughtful architectural response that honors local heritage while embracing modern sustainability.

Design Concept: Continuity, Restraint, and Renewal

SeARCH approached the project as an architectural exercise in continuity and respect for place. Rather than demolishing the postwar house, the design preserves its essence — maintaining the existing contours and proportions while subtly differentiating the old and new volumes through material choices and rooflines.

The main house features a façade of vertical wooden slats and a traditional tiled roof, echoing the modest seaside vernacular of the 1950s. In contrast, the extension introduces an iridescent cladding that shifts from green to brown depending on the viewer’s position, creating a poetic dialogue between architecture, light, and landscape. A corrugated roof with a slender white edge ties both parts together, evoking the restrained elegance of mid-century coastal homes.

Spatial Organization: A Home for Generations

Villa BaZ evolves from a single-family holiday retreat into a multi-generational dwelling. The original structure now serves as the main residence for the parents, housing communal spaces such as the living room, conservatory, and wellness area. The redesign replaces former outbuildings with three independent studios — one for each grown child — allowing the home to flexibly accommodate up to twenty guests during family gatherings.

Each studio operates autonomously, ensuring privacy and comfort while maintaining proximity to the shared dune landscape. The boomerang-shaped floor plan cleverly integrates these extensions, restoring the natural dune profile and reinforcing a seamless indoor-outdoor relationship.

Materiality and Sustainability: Building with Nature

Reflecting SeARCH’s commitment to sustainable architecture, Villa BaZ is largely built from bio-based materials and meets the highest BENG (Nearly Energy Neutral Building) standards. The structure employs solid timber for floors, walls, and roofs — a material choice that ensures both thermal performance and a warm tactile quality.

Inside, a floated screed floor contrasts beautifully with exposed timber beams, creating a calm, natural interior palette that complements the surrounding dunes. Externally, concrete retaining walls anchor the home into its sandy terrain, emphasizing the balance between permanence and change.

Quiet Luxury by the Sea

Villa BaZ is more than a renovation; it’s a manifesto for quiet luxury — a form of elegance born from craftsmanship, material honesty, and environmental sensitivity. By merging the spirit of mid-century Dutch coastal homes with contemporary sustainable design, SeARCH has crafted a villa that feels timeless, intimate, and deeply connected to its setting.

Here, the architecture steps back to let light, landscape, and sea breeze take center stage — proving that true sophistication lies in simplicity.

All Photographs are works of Stijn Poelstra