Report: Glass House in the Desert
Spain’s Gorafe Desert in Granada, Andalusia, is one of the most inhospitable regions of Europe. The weather in this 10,000 ha landscape encompasses everything from storms to droughts and snow. Outdoor temperatures vary between 45 °C and -10 °C. This is where Ofis Architects built a house of glass. From the first idea in January 2017 to the completion of the building, which was entirely prefabricated in Slovenia, took just one year. In January 2018, the individual parts were assembled on site. “La Casa del Desierto” functions fully autonomously and can be disassembled and removed without trace. It stands column-free on a timber deck. The all-round glazing has an area of 54.75 m² and supports the timber flat roof. The glass elements are connected with a structural silicone adhesive. The 20 m² floor area is divided into three zones: bedroom, bathroom and living room. Building services consist of a 400 l water tank, 26 m² solar modules and an 18.2 kWh storage battery system. External curtains provide privacy and solar shading.
