Glass House

Glass House was built around the concept of transparency as a means of interaction and introspection. The envelope of the building consists of wide glass surfaces screened by strong metal elements, hence the name of the building.

The robust structural elements define the volumes that form the ensemble. The structure visible from the interior and the exterior becomes a strong feature of the composition, while the transparent areas create the impression of weightlessness. The repetition of the “X” shape formed by the structural tyrants and the inclined pillars adds rhythmicity to the facades.

The greenhouse represents the central point for the building and it dictates the configuration of the other rooms. It connects all the floors, from the basement to the first level. Alongside the generous openings to the yard, it emphasizes the fluidity of the construction. In this way natural light and vegetation shape the composition of the volumes, integrating the building into the natural surroundings.

The entire house is open towards the yard and the pool. In order to benefit the most of the garden, the ground floor is occupied by one simple volume that hosts the common spaces and the greenhouse. The night area, located on the upper level, occupies a rectangular prism parallel to the first one and a large volume positioned perpendicular to the latter. The central volume is elongated towards the pool, forming a console that creates the impression that the building is floating. An sunken courtyard assures the illumination of the underground spaces – the study, the staff room and the technical spaces.