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Surprises Await in Little Glass Boxes
In 3 examples, the functionality and whimsy of glass walls shine through
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
“Glass box" is an expression — sometimes endearing, more times not — describing buildings made up primarily of glass walls. Think Mies van der Rohe's designs of houses and office buildings. But a glass box can also be just that, a box made out of glass that is part of a larger composition. I've collected three projects that have glass boxes: One is an entry, one is a dining room (among other things), and one is a facade. Read on to see the power of glass boxes.
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| Lighthouse 65 is a beachfront property overlooking the Solent and Isle of Wight on England's southeast coast. The design by AR Design Studio uses the roof as a surface for parking three cars. A small bridge then provides access to a glass box housing stairs to the lower levels. |
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| The raised glass box relates directly to the footprint of the spiral staircase, whose steel grating allows light to filter below. |
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| The house is wide, maximizing views to the water. The glass box sticks above the two floors, like an exclamation point. |
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| A side view of the house shows the selective use of glass, primarily toward the water for views but largely absent on the other sides for privacy. The glass box definitely stands out against these surfaces. |
Elliott + Elliott Architecture describes the House on Casco Bay as "the memory of a 19th century Cape Cod residence that stood on the site for over 100 years and the desire for a new, minimalist spatial expression." Those contradictory aspects are evident here.
The house is actually made up of a few glass boxes that project from the Cape Cod volumes. Here we see the link between two of the volumes on the left and the main entry on the right.
| On the other side of the house are the dining room (left) and garden access (right). |
| From inside, the dining room is a dramatic space with 270-degree views. |
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This house in Paris designed by Moussafir Architectes is inserted between two existing buildings. The architects conceptualized the house like a tree, and the main facade consists of three glass boxes that project and overlap each other; they relate to the stacking of the floors within.
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The tree-like aspect of the glass boxes comes in the form of screens that close off the facade and provide shade for the interiors.
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| The effect at night is particularly striking. Note the patterns cast on the neighbors' walls. |
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The metal screens relate to the traditional shutters that can be found on most Parisian buildings. Their patterning is accomplished through contemporary means: laser cutting.
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While I'm fond of the screens from outside, they are even more powerful from inside. They do a great job of cutting down on direct sunlight as well as creating privacy, something that glass boxes in various shapes and sizes are criticized for.
Ideabook updated on Oct. 3, 2012.
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I would have liked to see another photo of the stairs in Lighthouse 65. It's a great shot, as a photo, but it makes the stairs look treacherous. I couldn't see myself hauling groceries and pets up and down them. I'm guessing there are more convenient entries elsewhere. I love the views from the house, they are truly awesome, but the building itself really doesn't bond with its surroundings. To me, it cries out for emptiness around it.
The Cape Cod house is very appealing and I really, really like the glass boxes - with one exception - the box that sits just below the steep slope of the roof. I can't see that working well with heavy snow. The flat roof is going to collect a lot of accumulation by itself, never mind when snow slides off the sloped roof above. That's a lot of weight and a lot of water to drain. Maybe the house is close enough to the sea that they don't get a lot of snow?