Unusual Architecture: The “Sideways” House
Original “Sideways” House built in 1962 by Herve Moutard
We love unusual architecture and this house, called the Sideways House, is such an example.
Built in 1962 by Herve Moutard on the small island of Stomgrog, the house was designed in part to withstand the strong winds of the North Sea that regularly buffet the island and to turn architecture “on it’s side” in the words of Moutard who spent eight years working on the original concept and now lives in the house with his wife, Hilaria.
“Some thought we were fools to undertake such a project,” Moutard said, “but my wife and I loved the island and wanted to retain its vision, that of unique architecture which worked with the elements.”
Moutard designed his roof with the use of a wind tunnel supplied by the British Air Force. Using reinforced materials known to withstand winds in velocity of over 200 mph and positioning the house to where the roof line and eaves worked with the prevailing winds instead of against them Moutard channeled the wind into nearby turbines which supply more than ample energy for the home and Moutard’s extensive workshop.
Moutard decided to keep to his original “sideways” concept in the interior of the house. Moutard bolted his furniture into the 4 by 16 inch studs as every floor was now a wall. Moutard described how he and his wife solved the problem of sleeping in a “sideways” bed.
“At first it was quite a challenge to sleep in a bed that hung on a wall instead of one which was on the floor, but my wife, who worked with the British Space and Aeronautical Program in Wales designed a system using a burlap material which was double reinforced on its seams which allowed an individual to sleep in a position which was identical to the baby of a kangaroo, safely ensconced in it’s mother’s pouch.”
Moutard and his wife are working on their next project, a house that, according to Moutard, is “self-cleaning”. Moutard believes architecture should not only tickle the imagination but also be functional as well as an environmental asset.
“My wife and I designed the bathrooms first. We wanted to use the nearby seawater and the natural properties of sodium and chloride ions. When you’re ready to clean you just seal off the room and then flood it, sort of like a giant washing machine without the spinner in the middle, and then rinse. We nearly had a disaster last April 1st when Hilaria accidentally locked me into the room and the water had reached over my head. Luckily I was able to plug up the intake pipe with the plastic tub mat. Probably saved my life.”
Next up, the Three Wall House in Malaysia.
By LBG
Source – Sideways House
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