Pillow House

Rendered views of the Pillow house from the east (above) and north (below)

Project details

• Project Name: Pillow House (or Zebra House)
• Client: Project for an International Competition for invites on the house of the future
• Project Type: Housing
• Principal Designers: HOV
• Date of commencement of project: 2004
• Location of site: Central Italy
• Built-up Area: 180 square meters

Rendered views of the Pillow house from the south (above) and west (below)

The Concept

The Pillow House represents a study into residences with radial distribution of their internal spaces. Following archaic models which can still be found in rural populations across Equatorial Africa and the Amazonian area, the central reference point-principally dedicated to an open-pit fireplace, has here been associated with the collection and processing of meteoric waters. This sums up their two valences - usefulness and symbolism - within the same space.

View of the interior towards the central space

The entire unit has variable conformations with the number of inhabitants not being pre-determined. The unit can thus, through varied configurations, accommodate from one to twelve persons in it.

Left: View of the interiors from the entry, Right: View of the open space at night

The structure is made of a deformable, thin section support net in composite material and of a double elastic layer of synthetic film. The exterior of this film is embedded with photovoltaic cells that provide sufficient energy for the minimal support equipments in the unit. This surface can be configured as per the external environmental conditions and physical surroundings. The inner surface of the film is made of transpiring fabric with strong thermal conservation capacity. Further, the two openings (entrance and central light) can be locked with removable elements.

Credits

• Text: Courtesy, the architect
• Images: Courtesy, the architect
• Compiled and edited by Mitesh Saraf