Privacy Enhanced Minimal Homes : the open house 1

The team at KWK Prome designed the Open House, which is a new German residence that simultaneously embraces the idea of openness and privacy all at once. The house opens up to the surroundings without compromising its privacy as the walls open up at the flick of a switch. It is built on a space that is often used for sports and social gatherings.

The intention behind the design is to create something where the homeowner can embrace the lush forest surroundings and interact with nature whilst also keeping quiet at home when it is busy. The walls are curved and long, resting on small wheels and moving when the button is pressed.

KWK Promes notes, “The site near Bremen, where the house stands, usually is a quiet corner on the edge of the village at the interface with the forest. However, periodically – due to sports events in the direct neighborhood – the area would fill up with casual people. The architects didn’t want a fence to limit interference with the character of this place and at the same time to preserve the natural migration of wild animals. The essence has therefore become to maintain everyday openness but with the possibility of using temporary closure in the most inconvenient moments.”

Image Credit: KWK Promes