House W is a modern reflection on the power of sincere openness. The free-flowing design by Atelier About Architecture took three years to complete. The challenge was to build a house that showcased the reflective beauty of glass, the grounding status of natural wood, and the beauty of a “no closed doors policy.” Mirrored patterns can be found throughout the home. From the visually striking beams to the interior glass railings and large windows, House W is truly an architectural feat.
Throughout the design phase, Atelier About Architecture had to combat the extreme temperatures that the site faced in the winter and the warm weather in the summer months. In this vein, heat preservation was key. The home had to simultaneously become a humanistic environment, without costing a fortune to maintain a stable temperature.
The solution was an ingenious heating and ventilation design that played to the benefits of the surrounding natural elements. The back of the building uses the abutting hillside to push cold air to the north facade during the winter. The outside walls leverage the warming power of 150mm insulation panels, while the glass box interior atrium provides continuous heat. The result is a living environment that embraces physical and emotional poetry in motion. Through the removal of ornament objects and the addition of beautiful, yet functional, design pieces, House W showcases the importance of both visual and elemental sincerity in architectural design.