The Narrow House

source: archdaily
Amidst a block of more traditional houses in Bilzen, Brussels-based Bassam El-Okeily, in collaboration with Karla Menten, has squeezed a contemporary three storey residence. From the street, the project’s vastly unique façade screams for attention, yet the crazed internal geometry is contained by a flat piece of glass – a move that allows the project to assimilate better into its context. In the evening time, the façade is lit in different colors allowing the house to act as “a pubic light sculpture by night.”

A mere 5.3 meters wide, the residence includes standard amenities for its clients such as a garage and entrance on the ground floor, in addition to a library and reading nook, and a third-level studio for the client to work.

Two skewed balconies offer views to the street, with their angled quality adding a strong aesthetic touch to the residence.

The interior spaces are shaped by slicing away ceiling mass and walls to sufficiently light up the space. As the main living space on the second level is set back farther into the lot, natural light enters from above. Small geometric windows and clerestories allow rooms that are not directly linked to the facade to still be bright and well-lit.
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source: designboom
‘narrow house’ by brussels-based architect bassam el-okeily is a three-storey building in bilzen, a small city near the eastern border of belgium. the project, which is a collaborative design with architect karla menten, features a dynamic and expressive street facade: a glass-encased layer of space that could be defined as an thin atrium, with two jutting look-out balconies that are skewed in angles and directions. lit up in a multitude of colours, the face of the ‘narrow house’ acts as a public light sculpture by night.

sitting on a lot that is just 5.3 meters wide, the dwelling which was built for a couple accommodates a garage and entrance on the ground floor. the second and third level above are completely enclosed in glazing, exposing a white facade with a set of balconies. the lower balcony connects to the the client’s library and reading nook, offering him natural light as well as a sheltered view of the street. the upper platform, which seems to be turned slightly to face the other, juts off the third-level studio, where the woman of the house works as an artist.

because one of the two exposed facades of the house is made mostly solid by the balcony set-up, the rest of the interior draws on clever slicing away of ceiling mass and walls to sufficiently light up the space. the main living space on the ground level is set back further into the lot and features a carved out atrium that allows natural light to wash down the walls from above. small geometric windows and clerestories allow rooms that are not directly linked to the facade to still be bright and well-lit.
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source: maisarquitetura
Bassam El Okeily Arquitetura projetou esta casa localizado na pequena cidade de Bilzen, Bélgica, é uma casa estreita em uma rua estreita, com uma frente ampla de vidro. A varanda inferior contém um canto de leitura com uma biblioteca do proprietário, oferecendo-lhe vista da rua, sem perder a privacidade. A casa ainda acomoda o estúdio de um artista. A fachada é esculpida pela luz azul após o escurecer.
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source: socialdesignmagazine
Narrow House” di Bassam el-Okeily architetto di Bruxelles, è un edificio di tre piani costruito a Bilzen, una piccola città vicino al confine orientale del Belgio. Il progetto, che è una progettazione collaborativa con Karla Menten architetto, dispone di una dinamica ed espressiva facciata sulla strada: uno strato di vetro rivestito di spazio che potrebbe essere definito come un atrio sottile, con due balconi sporgenti con diversi angoli e direzioni. illuminata in una moltitudine di colori, di notte la “Narrow House” è come una scultura.

Il terreno sul quale è stata costruita ha una larghezza di 5,3 metri, la dimora, costruita per una coppia, ospita un garage e ingresso al piano terra. il secondo e terzo livello sono completamente chiusi in vetro, esponendo una facciata bianca con una serie di balconi. Il balcone inferiore si connette al cantuccio libreria e lettura, offrendogli la luce naturale e una vista al riparo della strada. Il piano superiore, sporge più in avanti ed ospita lo studio dove la donna della casa svolge il suo lavoro di artista.