The W.I.N.D. House in the north of Holland incorporates both integrated sustainable solutions and home automation, whilst enabling a flexible use of space.
Located on the outskirts of a Dutch village and close to the sea, the house is backed by a wooded area and fronted by an open expanse of polder landscape. The design of the house responds to both its setting and to the seasons.
The more intimate working and sleeping areas are located towards the back, where the enclosure of the woods provides an intimate setting, while the living areas enjoy panoramic views of the polder landscape to the front.
The elevated position of the open plan living areas enhances the views to the exterior. Each of the four facades, curve towards the inside to create four distinct petal-like wings.
These curving recesses are visually connected to each other through their view lines, which cross at the heart of the building. The vertical organisation of the building follows a centrifugal split-level principle.
An open staircase at the centre of the house connects the front and back wings. A comprehensive home automation system enables integrated control of the electrical systems including solar panels and mechanical installations.
Complete control of this ‘smart home’ is possible by a central touch-screen in the living area, while decentral devices provide dedicated control per room.
Furthermore control is possible remotely by independent devices via LAN-connection.
The integrated sustainability concept of the house includes a central air/water heat pump, mechanical ventilation with waste heat recovery and solar panels.
Heat gain is reduced through the use of tinted glass on the fully glazed front and back facades. Source by UNStudio.
Location: Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
Architects: UNStudio
Project Team: Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos, Astrid Piber with Ger Gijzen, René Wysk and Luis Etchegorry, William de Boer, Elisabeth Brauner, Albert Gnodde, Cheng Gong, Eelco Grootjes, Daniela Hake, Patrik Noome, Kristin Sandner, Beatriz Zorzo Talavera
Structural Engineer: Pieters Bouwtechniek, Haarlem
Mechanical, plumbing: Ingenieursburo Linssen bv., Amsterdam
Electrical and Domotica: Elektrokern Solutions, Alkmaar
Building Physics: Mobius Consult, Driebergen
Interior Design: UNStudio, Tim-Alkmaar, Alkmaar
Landscape Design: UNStudio
Lighting Design: Elektrokern Solutions, Alkmaar
Special Acoustics: Hans Koomans Studio Design, Amsterdam
Cost Management: Basalt bouwadvies bv., Nieuwegein, Studio Bouwhaven bv., Barendrecht
Site Management: Studio Bouwhaven bv., Barendrecht
Tender Documents: Adviesbureau Both, Haarlem
Furniture & accessories: supplied by Co van der Horst, Amstelveen
Building surface gross: 528 m²
Building surface net: 406 m²
Building volume: 1677 m³
Building site: 2350 m²
Client: undisclosed
Year: 2014
Photographs: Inga Powilleit, Fedde de Weert
