paperhouses offers residential architecture in open source

paperhouses offers residential architecture in open source
‘house as a system’ by dekleva gregorič arhitekti
image courtesy of paperhouses

despite its constant role in our day-to-day lives, architecture is still seen by many as a closed profession which remains out of touch with the lives of the general public. seeking to challenge these perceptions, paperhouses – founded by architect joana pacheco – is a scheme which makes contemporary residential architecture freely and readily available. the program aims to stimulate debate and encourage collaboration among designers, clients and builders.

the strategy was unveiled as the first open source platform for architecture, allowing blueprints to be downloaded directly from an online catalogue. ensuring that designs can be tailored to the needs of the user, bespoke specifications can be altered and shaped in relation to topology, atmosphere, ecological concerns and material considerations. projects can then be realized through a network of building partners listed on the site.

‘my goal is to put architecture within reach, which means to destitute high-end design of its price tag and forbidden aura, and to engage people in their own project. universal access via free licensing is the only process which simultaneously makes knowledge accessible, democratic, and amenable to a diversity of production. all things considered, open source makes complete sense’, states paperhouses founder joana pacheco.

participating architecture practices include: carl turner architects, christ christ associated architects, christian pottgiesser (architecturespossibles), dekleva gregoric arhitekti, dellekamp arquitectos, EMBT (enric miralles + benedetta tagliabue), florian busch architects, jun igarashi, panorama arquitectos, SPBR (angelo bucci), spora architects and tatiana bilbao S.C.

see below for a selection of paperhouses projects.

dekleva gregorič arhitekti

‘house as a system’ by dekleva gregorič arhitekti
image courtesy of paperhouses

the proposal by dekleva gregoric is a modular system which can result in a building as small as a studio or as large as a hotel. the single storey volume can be adapted to suit specific requirements with compatible ‘add-ons’: an extruded window, the material of façades and the angle of the gabled roof. the interior functions as a fluid space, connecting private space and services.

‘house as a system’ by dekleva gregorič arhitekti
image courtesy of paperhouses

tatiana bilbao

proposal by tatiana bilbao
image courtesy of paperhouses

envisioned as a three-bedroom family house, tatiana bilbao’s design is programmed to be highly flexible, accommodating a variety of orientations. the response is again modular with a predetermined width allowing ventilation between the two sides of the dwelling and bringing large quantities of natural light inside the home.

proposal by tatiana bilbao
image courtesy of paperhouses

panorama arquitectos

proposal by panorama arquitectos
image courtesy of paperhouses

while sloped sites offer impressive views, high construction costs often deter construction on such difficult plots. panorama’s proposal seeks to offer a solution to this problem with a displaced rectangular volume enabling adaptability against an inclined terrain. through limiting internal circulation areas, the scheme maximizes living space, bringing natural light into each area of the dwelling. the house is designed to be constructed in prefabricated timber panels with different cladding options offered.

proposal by panorama arquitectos
image courtesy of paperhouses

florian busch architects

‘our private sky’ by florian busch architects
image courtesy of paperhouses

florian busch’s ‘our private sky’ scheme addresses the polarity of privacy and openness. the size and orientation of the ‘sky’ are derived from and optimized for the site’s specific condition and context. a range of configurations are able to incorporate a diversity of criteria whilst maintaining the overall integrity and performance of the design.

‘our private sky’ by florian busch architects
image courtesy of paperhouses

spora architects

proposal by spora architects
image courtesy of paperhouses

spora’s project is seen as a modern interpretation of vernacular architecture, arranged in a similar manner to a hungarian farmhouse. the program follows a typical family program, with lower level common spaces and upper level sleeping quarters. the entire ground is a solid concrete base on which the upper level is mounted. this system provides the opportunity for a great levels of variation.