Alphabet House

(n)

A building for human habitation, especially one that consists of a ground floor and one or more upper storeys. (Oxford)

Building that functions as a home for humans or other creatures, ranging from simple dwellings such as rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to complex structures composed of many systems. (Wikipedia)

The social unit that lives in a house is known as a household. Most commonly, a household is a family unit of some kind, although households may also be other social groups or individuals.

House D 

Location : Bischofshofen/Salzburg, Austria

Year : Completed 2010

Photographer : Stefan Zauner

House D

The private house called "D" is located above the town of Bischofshofen in the province of Salzburg in Austria. The location of the estate at the summit of a small hill on the first row of family homes ensures its uninterrupted view. The building's owner to use as much concrete, steel and glass as possible, the objective was clear: a modern structure which subtly and unobtrusively integrates itself in the existing landscape but also the style of the roof (double pitch roof).

Double pitch roof

The two-storey structure with its 10x25 metre ground plan is diagonally interfused and made accessible by a second structure at ground floor level. Two recesses at the side of the building facing south, an interposed cube to the north and the dominant pitched roof define the outlines of the building structure. The building extends in an east/west direction, with the driveway and entrance to the southeast. The terrace with swimming pool to the south and west of the building form a connection with the natural landscape.

 

An additional entrance to the east makes the building accessible for guests. All functions relating to 'living' take place on the first floor. The main entrance, an office, an engineering room, secondary rooms and storage rooms are found on the ground floor.

The staircase is flanked by a flexed, nine-metre high exposed concrete wall with integrated illumination beam and levitating exposed concrete cube on the right. The staircase widens in its floor plan from the bottom to the top – leading into the central ‘living hall’.This creates a generous sensation of space and width. 

Look at the roof !

The interior of the building is dominated by white plasterwork with generous window cutouts and glass sliding doors. The entrance area on the ground floor is provided with light by an atrium facing north. Directly behind the entrance on the ground floor lies the staircase from the ground floor to the 'living' floor upstairs. 

Doors and furniture surfaces made of bamboo create a sensation of comfort with their regular, unobtrusive structures. 

 

Bamboo furniture

Siteplan

House K

Location : Hokkaido, Japan

Year : 2009

Photographer :Seiya Miyamoto

Purpose : Residential

Site Area : 379.58 m2

Building Area : 193.77 m2

Total Floor Area : 226.06 m2

Structure : 2 Storey Wooden 

Front Side

This residential housing project, the client desired an open space within an indoor environment. But at the same time, one of the other conditions was that it should reveal the house shape on the exterior. Considering the cold climate in Hokkaido, it didn't seem to be the most appropriate solution to make a wide open interior space as outdoors, yet, keeping the house shape on the exterior.

Interior of the house

The given condition of making an open indoor space led directly to the idea of making house-shaped indoor rooms. The shape of a house is a code for dividing space indoors and outdoors, and a village is a code thar implies outdoors. 

The composition of the shape

After some trial, it seemed that a set of more than 3 house shapes would give avillage feeling, which would potentially create a relationship between indoor and outdoor. It would only be then that this idea of an interweaved living space would be expressed and perceived.

Source: Architonic