Brakel Estate

The Brakel estate lies behind the high Waaldijk near Brakel in Gelderland. The historic stately home and grounds have suffered a heavy loss of quality over the past forty years. The building is run down, the romantic atmosphere has gone, and interventions in all kinds of places have been mainly functional and involving a lot of asphalt. All the same, with its position on the outskirts of the village with its wood, meadows, and orchards, the estate is an important quality in the surroundings.

The restoration of the area in front of the villa is the first step towards making use of the potential of the site. A key element in our design is a spatially exciting area in front of the villa. To that end the hollow in the raised ground leading towards the villa will be filled in, the elegant lake and the island will be restored, and they will be linked as a whole with the ditch around the meadow. Three new groups of trees will be planted on the raised ground, the island and lakeside to make the view of the villa more dynamic by hiding a part of the building from sight from whichever angle you look.

The road leading to the estate and the car park behind the building were recently covered by (a lot of) asphalt. To make the road an attractive part of the estate, the asphalt will be transformed into an elegant, narrow lane. Lay-bys and unnecessary widenings will be removed to give the park more space and attention. A terrace bordered by a hedge will be laid out all around the villa. The terrace affords space to organise parties and receptions, while the whole conveys a chic appearance on the villa. This also tones down the contrast between front and rear, as every side will be front – a playful allusion to the continual reversal of front and rear over the centuries.

The principal Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen also hoped that the improved quality would make the building itself a bustling destination too. That seems to have worked, as a new tenant has been found in the meantime who wants to give the villa a function accessible to the public.