Ben van Berkel / UNStudio Design The W.I.N.D. House - an Expansion of the Smart Home

'Super Living' and the expansion of the smart home 

AMSTERDAM, Feb. 3, 2015 /CNW/ - The 'homes of the future', previously the stuff of fantasy exhibited only in World's Fairs and science fiction, are increasingly becoming a reality. Automation and connectivity are making it possible for today's smart homes to integrate information technologies, resulting in increased convenience, energy efficiency, safety and security.

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(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150203/727962-e )

Ben van Berkel: "A challenge in the design of today's single family home is a response that accurately reflects the degrees of flexibility, sustainability and automation required by the residents and the incorporation of these into the overall concept of the design."

The W.I.N.D. House in the north of Holland incorporates both integrated sustainable solutions and home automation, whilst enabling a flexible use of space. Located on the outskirts of a Dutch village and close to the sea, the house is backed by a wooded area and fronted by an open expanse of polder landscape. The design of the house responds to both its setting and to the seasons. The more intimate working and sleeping areas are located towards the back, where the enclosure of the woods provides an intimate setting, while the living areas enjoy panoramic views of the polder landscape to the front.

Centrifugal circulation

The elevated position of the open plan living areas enhances the views to the exterior. Each of the four facades, curve towards the inside to create four distinct petal-like wings. These curving recesses are visually connected to each other through their view lines, which cross at the heart of the building. The vertical organisation of the building follows a centrifugal split-level principle. An open staircase at the centre of the house connects the front and back wings.

Automation and energy management

A comprehensive home automation system enables integrated control of the electrical systems including solar panels and mechanical installations. Complete control of this 'smart home' is possible by a central touch-screen in the living area. Furthermore control is possible remotely by independent devices via LAN-connection. The integrated sustainability concept of the house includes a central air/water heat pump, mechanical ventilation with waste heat recovery and solar panels.

Photos: Interior: ©Inga Powilleit. Exterior: ©Fedde de Weert

Furniture & accessories: supplied by Co van der Horst, Amstelveen

SOURCE Ben van Berkel