Smart home: Single-family house by UNStudio

The W.I.N.D. House by UNStudio is based on the split-level principle. The individual levels are connected by a central open stairway. The single-family house is located at the outskirts of a Dutch village close to the sea in north Holland. Conceived as a 'smart house', the building offers a comprehensive home automation system that enables integrated control both of the electric systems as well as the building's solar panels and mechanical installations. Devices in different rooms can be individually controlled from a touch screen in the living area and from outside the building via a LAN connection. Electricity is provided by solar panels installed on the roof, plus a heat pump and a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery system have been installed to heat and cool the house. Both the front and rear walls feature large expanses of glazing, contrasted at the sides by facades with a predominantly closed design that provides privacy from the neighbouring buildings. The working and sleeping areas are located towards the back of the house, while the open living area is aligned to provide views of the garden. Project daa Location: Noord-Holland, Netherlands Gros building space: 528 m² Net building space: 406 m² Enclosed space: 1,677 m³ Completion: 2014 Architects at UNStudio: 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 engineering: Pieters Bouwtechniek, Haarlem Building physics: Mobius Consult, Driebergen Interior design: UNStudio, Tim-Alkmaar, Alkmaar Landscape architecture: UNStudio Lighting design: Elektrokern Solutions, Alkmaar Acoustic: Hans Koomans Studio Design, Amsterdam Cost management: Basalt Bouwadvies bv, Nieuwegein, Studio Bouwhaven bv, Barendrecht Photograph interior: Inga Powilleit Photograph exterior: Fedde de Weert Source: UNStudio