Facebook Tweet Help Stories New Home Timber home serves as showcase for passive design Share Tweet Help With sustainability and passive design rising high in the minds of new home builders, stand-out examples like this home are becoming more useful With sustainability and passive design rising high in the minds of new home builders, stand-out examples like this home are becoming more useful Architect: Philippe SAMYN and PARTNERS sprlAbout the project (text supplied): The land is situated close to a small village in the East Cantons. It runs at a steep gradient into a small valley enclosed by a wooded slope in the distance. The view is spectacular, showcasing a rural landscape. The visual and ecological quality of the site must be preserved and developed as far as possible.The aim was to build a house that is environmentally friendly in the broad sense of the term. The architectural intention, in particular, is to integrate the house in the best way possible, not only into the landscape – with minimum visual impact – but also into the rural and local environment.The single-storey house is built at the back of the lot. From its position on the slope, it blends in with the landscape. Indeed, the top of the property is almost three metres below the communal path meaning that the view for walkers and existing or future neighbours is not obstructed by the house. With sustainability and passive design rising high in the minds of new home builders, stand-out examples like this home are becoming more useful The garden is in the style of a farm with an orchard and a vegetable garden, positioned on the edge of a field at the end of an access road. It is circular, making it highly space efficient. The access road joins the curve of the pergola which encircles the garden and is lined with a row of native trees, providing a visual link between the house and the public domain. The entrance to the access road, marked by three walnut trees, is set back in order to be close to the centre of the hamlet.The house extends around the circle of the garden. The curve provides residents with panoramic views to the north, over the valley. To the south, the house closes into a more private terrace that is protected from the wind and extended by the garden.The house is formed by the main building which is extended by two roofs, which act on one side as a carport and on the other side as a covered terrace.The main building is formed from two parallel arches. To the south, a glazed gallery is protected by eaves. Unheated, it serves as both the hallway to the different rooms in the house and as thermal buffering for the north part of the house. The north part is formed from a building with substantial thermal insulation, containing the living rooms with exceptional views to the north. With sustainability and passive design rising high in the minds of new home builders, stand-out examples like this home are becoming more useful The rooms are laid out from west to east – from public to private. The entrance, the office, the “Bierkeller”, the living room, the dining room and the kitchen open onto the largest area of the gallery. An airlock separates the “public” area from the more private area containing the bedrooms and a "thermal" area (hammam and shower) located at the east end of the house. The house is completed by an outdoor spa bath with views over the landscape.The eye glides over the rounded roof, thus preventing a clash with the landscape. Story by: Trends 14 Feb, 2018 New Home Trendsideas Home kitchen bathroom commercial design Latest Post Call and response 13 Oct, 2024 Thinking outside the square 13 Oct, 2024 Natural wave 13 Oct, 2024 We know the Specialists Similar Stories