Architecture

Y-shaped home holds a pool in its arms

Y-shaped home holds a pool in its arms
The shape of the Y House is aimed at raising the top of it above those around it for use as a communal space
The shape of the Y House is aimed at raising the top of it above those around it for use as a communal space
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The shape of the Y House makes room for a more sizeable garden around the base of the building than would otherwise have been possible
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The shape of the Y House makes room for a more sizeable garden around the base of the building than would otherwise have been possible
The Y House has a swimming pool in its uppermost apex
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The Y House has a swimming pool in its uppermost apex
Circular windows of varying sizes fill the Y House with natural light
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Circular windows of varying sizes fill the Y House with natural light
Windows in the underside of the arms of the "Y" look down to the garden
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Windows in the underside of the arms of the "Y" look down to the garden
The shape of the Y House is aimed at raising the top of it above those around it for use as a communal space
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The shape of the Y House is aimed at raising the top of it above those around it for use as a communal space
The uppermost sections of the Y House are used for communal spaces
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The uppermost sections of the Y House are used for communal spaces
Access to the upper levels of the Y House is provided via stairs and an elevator
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Access to the upper levels of the Y House is provided via stairs and an elevator
The height of the Y House provides views of the surrounding areas
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The height of the Y House provides views of the surrounding areas
The arms of the Y House accommodate a living space and a dining room
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The arms of the Y House accommodate a living space and a dining room
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Dutch architect MVRDV is no stranger to designing unusually shaped buildings, but its Y House project is perhaps the most unconventional of them all. As the name suggests, it's a home shaped like the letter "Y" – a shape, it seems, that offers the perfect place to nestle a striking swimming pool.

The design, worked up in collaboration with KAI Architects, is aimed at raising the top of the house above those around it, for use as a communal space that makes the most of the surrounding views. MVRDV founder Winy Maas explains that the "Y" shape also makes room for a more sizable garden around the base of the building than would otherwise have been possible.

The arms of the "Y" accommodate a living space and a dining room, while changing rooms lead up to the pool. Stacked below are two children's bedrooms, a master bedroom and a guest bedroom, with a "tea room" for entertaining guests at the base of the building. Access to all levels is provided by both stairs and an elevator, while circular windows of varying sizes are used to fill the interior with natural light.

The 330-sq m (3,550-sq ft) single-family weekend home is said to be be positioned and located based on the principles of feng shui. It will be located in Tainan, Taiwan, between the city and the sea, and is part of a development that is expected to to become a weekend retreat for city workers.

MVRDV says Y House is the second project it will bring to fruition in Tainan, although it has yet to confirm a planned completion date for us.

Source: MVRDV

View gallery - 9 images
1 comment
1 comment
rpark
...looks a bit like a 'Y' shaped block of Swiss cheese.