Glass House

Gorafe (Granada), Spain

OFIS Architects

Description provided by the architect. Initiated by Guardian Glass, the glass house designed by OFIS arhitekti in collaboration with AKT ll structural engineers and Transsolar climate engineering creates comfortable living space with low energy consumption in the desert.

Research

The Glass House by OFIS Architecture is a research prototype for a comfortable if elementary retreat in a tense juxtaposition with the harsh surrounding environment. The project, initiated by Guardian Glass is challenging thermal and structural abilities of glass. Instead of focusing only in “a glass as a window element” the concept explored its advanced potentials, e.g. transparent but shading element, a thin but thermally efficient envelope that is also the sole structural support.

This project is a response to the local, desert climate conditions. It is about both passive design and renewable energy generation. The building’s footprint contains every element that makes life possible from energy production to wastewater treatment while maintaining a comfortable interior only surrounded by a stunning, uninterrupted 360‎° views.

Program

The Glass House by OFIS Architecture will be the setting of a 1-week retreat for a single person or a couple. The guests will be selected from different tourist sharing platforms. The internal space is organized in 3 parts: bedroom, living area and bathroom with a sanitary core in the middle with all of the spaces opening towards the porch which is a covered and shaded external platform that is protected from the sun and wind.

Glass Walls as Structure

The unit uses the vertical glazing panels of the envelope as structural walls, resisting the desert’s high-speed winds and supporting the timber stressed skin roof and deck. The glass thermally efficient envelope is constructed of triple glazing walls that, due to use of almost invisible coatings, protects the interior from the sun.

“This is the third iteration of our collaboration in research and design with OFIS Architects, continuing our exploration into the intrinsic structural nature of glass and timber. Set in the harsh weather conditions of Spain’s Gorafe desert, the unit uses the vertical glazing panels of the envelope as structural walls, resisting the desert’s high-speed winds and supporting the timber stressed skin roof. Our Envelopes team developed bespoke details to accommodate the structural function of the glazing, and supported the client during the procurement phase.”

AKT II Structural Engineers