Z-Haus by Atelier Waechter
Z-Haus by Atelier Waechter
Atelier Waechter has build Z-Haus.
from Atelier Waechter:
The two attached houses, situated in the central neighborhood of North Williams Avenue, are clad in a dark corduroy-like skin of smooth cedar and form a compact edifice that cloaks their internal organization. The footprint is small, aligning front and back with adjacent houses, and moves vertically to gain more space and to take full advantage of broad city and mountain views. Mechanical venting occurs through the roof leaving the skin pure, punctuated only by the recessed white window openings.
SIX ROOMS
The interior of each home is composed of two distinct spatial orders. The first is a series of six rooms, offset at each half story, and smoothly joined by a series of half flight stairs forming a modified open floor plan. The split levels afford simultaneous views to the level below and to the level above. White oak floors, velvety white woodwork and bright walls are the components of the material palate. The white oak floor spirals, ribbon-like, back and forth up through the building, connecting each room in one unified gesture. Emphasizing this continuity, the stair treads are cut flush, and sanded smooth to give the appearance of a folded floor plane rather than a series of stair parts. The levels remain free of doors, utilizing movable wall panels for flexible privacy. The relative “sameness” of the six rooms heightens the awareness of each window view. In this way, the mood and character of each room becomes strongly influenced by its specific framed view.
CONTAINERS
Placed at the center of the open floor plan is a series of stacked rooms or “chambers” containing the mechanical and plumbing functions of the house. These “wet” rooms define the second spatial order. Within this core, each room is given a protective lining that suits the function of the room. The lining is effective in creating a clear distinction between the inside and outside of the container. For example, the bathrooms are lined on all surfaces with a color integrated stucco creating a robust shell for this wet environment, much different from the environment outside its walls. In the same way, the kitchen is lined with velvety white thermofoil cabinets. The walls and ceiling are similarly finished creating the sensation of being contained within a clearly defined space.
