Weberhaus Option | Bauart Architekten
Switzerland | 2000 | hard form
| Address: | Thun [pilot project] |
| Work Type: | new built |
| Context: | suburban |
| Number of Storeys: | 2-storey |
| Type of Building: | single- + semi-detached or terrace |
| Other Uses: | 1 |
Description
WeberHaus Option, developed from the ‘smallhouse’ idea by the Swiss architects Bauart AG, is based on a simple volumetric form that can be either used on it own, or two and three of these volumes can be combined to create a bigger unit. A prospective buyer can start with one small house and extend this when needed. Each module of 10,11 by 4.13 metres has a clear interior area of 35 m2 on the ground floor and 30 m2 on the first floor. Access to the house is via the short side straight into a front room with an open connection to the kitchen space that is positioned in the centre of the house. Past the kitchen is another room from which the first floor is accessed. The upper storey is identical to the ground floor plan. Throughout, only one type of large floor-to-ceiling window is used.
This basic unit can be, either at point of first time buying or at a later stage, extended if needed. Entire volumes or square one-storey modules can be added. The one-storey module can be attached to either side of the back room of the ground floor - either to simply enlarge this room or to create another room. On the first floor this module can become an accessible roof terrace. Another way to enlarge the initial floor area of 65 m2, if the site and building regulation allows, is to buy a second and third volume, which can be added slightly off-set to the first. Other options of this system include the grouping of volumes. One basic module with a one-storey extension can be combined with a mirrored version of the same to form a small courtyard in-between. Or, any number of L-shaped modules can be built next to each other, some even with the option of a pitched roof.References
Aeberhard, B., 'Mit Modulen gegen die Raumnot', archithese, 2003, pp. 66-69.
Bahamon, A., mini house, New York: Harper Design International Publishers, 2003.
Bauart, 'Smallhouse – Option, maximal reduziertes Wohnen', Bauart Architekten, 2000,