Studio Anders Abraham Architects

The Glass House

Justin prepress
Category: Competition 2006
Assistant: Architect Camilla Hornemann
Location: The Stadsparken park, BorĂ¥s, Sweden

The park is characteristic in being a space of experience, formed when you move about inside it, setting, walking or running.
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The path through the park is one of pleasure and thought –
and also sometimes a place for healing.
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To stay inside the park is a special – timeless – experience.
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The idea behind the house is to create a space within the park, building on the spatial nature of the park.
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The park space appears searching; the footpaths lead in unknown directions, and the space has no defined purpose
or function. This free, directionless space, uniting culture
and nature, must be experienced.
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The house creates a spatial state and frame of mind, more
floating than fixed, where space is an observatory of time
rather than a function in time.
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The house is very susceptible to light changes and leads in many directions – basically, the house gives access to experience time, not as a linear progression with before and after, but by merely existing in time.
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The house is constructed of elements of two types – horizontal (roof panels) and vertical (wall elements).
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The outer walls of the house consist of 38 identical trapezoid elements, which can be combined to form either convex, straight, or concave walls. Together, the 38 elements create
an outer wall with the form of a soft movement.
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The elements contain a glass pivot door with a hinge and
an aluminium frame which swings into the element. As a
result, when the element is completely open, it remains protected against the weather.
The door is placed on the exterior face when the wall is convex, and on the interior face when the door is concave.
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The roof consists of 21 panels with an identical profile but
different lengths.
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The roof elements have several directions and create a space within the interior space. The roof elements filter the light
differently (depending on their orientation in relation to
the cardinal points), and together they create an opening
with a play of the light which varies in intensity.

Justin prepress