House of the Future

Competition with Casper Klarén & Jesper Ullbing

The competition House of the Future was announced by the Dubai government to develop concepts for future housing for an Emirati middle class. The homes should be affordable, innovative, expandable, and adapted to Emirati needs. We saw the competition as an opportunity for us to broaden the understanding of the cultural differences that exist in housing worldwide.

In the proposal, we have emphasized adaptation to the local context. We have built an understanding of the conditions in the region and how people live today, but also how they may live in the future. This has resulted in a primary material choice of natural stone, which is abundant in the region and has a long tradition in construction. The construction in natural stone is based on a modular system where the prefabricated structure is alternately filled in or becomes openings in the facade. The roof is equipped with solar panels where the highest point of each module also functions as a solar chimney to cool the building.

Internally, the natural stone is complemented by compacted clay, wood, and salt. Typical waste material from quarrying is picked up and used as floor tiles, terrazzo in interior walls, or gravel in the courtyard. The residence is designed based on the Emiratis' living situation where hospitality is of great importance, as well as privacy.