Wedge-Shaped House Built On A Triangular Heritage Site

The Acute House is one of the most intriguing and unusual projects we’ve come across. That’s mostly because of the topography. The house sits on a triangular site which is not only small but oddly shaped and barely suited for a family home. Originally, the site was occupied by an old and derelict Victorian cottage made of wood. The cottage was an important landmark for the neighborhood and the architects didn’t want to deprive the area from that. As a result, they struggled to preserve the original charm of the cottage and to transfer it onto the new house that now sits in its place.

Acute House pitched roof
The site on which the house was built was initially occupied by an old Victorian cottage
Acute House pitched roof
The site has an unusual shape and is also placed in a heritage context

The house was a project by OOF! Architecture, a team of adventurous professionals who actually enjoy working with weird sites, eccentric clients and demanding heritage contexts. The project was a perfect fit for them. Because of the heritage context, there were some strict restrictions regarding the new house but the architects didn’t look a them as limitations but perceived them as challenges that inspired them to find unique ways to exploits the site’s problems.

Acute House pitched roof
The severe limitations didn’t intimidate the architects but rather inspired them to think outside the box
Acute House pitched roof
The house has a triangular form and occupies the entire site, leaving no room for outdoor spaces

The goal was to create a new compact family house that would suit the needs of their clients’ contemporary lifestyle. The pointy, wedge-shaped form of the site meant that the house had to mimic that form. Because of the unusually harsh site limitations and geometry, the architects were permitted to have the house built on 100% of the site which meant more living space but, at the same time, no garden or yard.

Acute House pitched roof
To preserve the charm of the original cottage, the architects reused a lot of materials and features
Acute House pitched roof
The house doesn’t have a garden but it gets to enjoy the surroundings thanks to its windows and shallow balcony

The architects also took into consideration the impact that the old cottage had on the neighborhood and the fact that it was a very loved building. They chose a highly responsive approach to the surrounding neighborhood and decided to try to retain the weathered character as much as possible. That was possible by reusing a lot of the materials from the old cottage such as the wooden boards and fence but also smaller things like the door knobs or the street numbers.

Acute House pitched roof
A vertical organization was chosen, given the narrowness of the site
Acute House pitched roof
The public spaces are situated on the ground floor while the private ones are upstairs

Obviously, the clients dropped any expectations of a conventional family house, at least the ones regarding the architecture. They embraced the idea of an untraditional home and chose to make the most of the unique particularities of the site. Because the space was narrow, the house was built on multiple levels, with a vertical structure.

Acute House pitched roof
There are no internal walls or doors between the spaces and the staircase ensure fluidity between the floors
Acute House pitched roof
To compensate for the lack of a garden, the designers used fresh accent colors and green elements

Because the internal walls, corridors and doors would have occupied considerable space, these elements were completely neglected. As a result, the house has a very open and continuous layout over the different floors. There are no dead-ends and a continuous circulation is ensured by the staircase. The interior as a whole is spacious and uncluttered.

Acute House pitched roof
A large window offers a comfortable seating nook with a wooden bench and built-in storage
Acute House pitched roof
The sleeping area is a cozy space found on the upper level, under the pitched roof

The complete lack of a garden or any other kind of outdoor space was definitely a disadvantage but the architects compensated for that in other ways. They gave the house large windows, full height sliding doors and even a shallow balcony. They also introduced lawn-green accents in the form of carpeting for the staircase and the bedroom floor. Hanging plants and a central aquarium complete the look.

Acute House pitched roof
The interior design overall is casual, relaxed and modern despite the site restrictions
Acute House pitched roof
The house is full of light and it has a spacious feel despite the size and shape