Glass Brick House
The house is situated on a very challenging plot: extremely small and completely enclosed on all sides. The main challenge was to make the most of the minimal available space and natural light. The project became one of give and take: a building that stands out while also striving to blend into its surroundings.
A smart layout, a forward-thinking construction method and a carefully considered double façade contribute to livability, hyper-efficiency, and emotional impact.
The bold glass-tile front façade is surprisingly harmonious. It speaks the language of a typical terraced house. The brickwork pattern and ornamented frames around the windows reference the stepped-gable house from 1707 just down the street.
The house opens upward: the lower floors are bedrooms, while the upper floors are living spaces. A rooftop terrace crowns the building. This ‘inverted’ layout is expressed in the façade: closed off at the bottom with terracotta tiles, and open at the top with glass tiles. Thanks to the accessible double façade, the compact house receives maximum daylight without sacrificing privacy, while also being highly efficient.
The house is built entirely using sustainable CLT solid wood construction: the panels are custom-made in the workshop, including cutouts for doors, windows, and technical installations, and then assembled on-site with a crane. The structural work was completed within a week, which also minimized disruption to the neighbourhood.
The interior radiates simplicity and restraint by exclusively using honest and sustainable materials: exposed white-stained solid wood walls and natural terracotta flooring.
Here, past and future converge. The project maximizes the residential potential of this highly complex site through its structure, layout, and thoughtful relationship with its surroundings.
