Alpine Atelier Glarus

A House at Pig Street is the current home of Marie José Van Hee.

The house was originally a composition of 4 separated houses in a row. In the beginning she wanted just her 2 room house, the one house where she lived her whole life. She had to buy 4 houses in a row because the seller did not want to sell them seperently.  In the groundplan it is still visible that there are 2 frontdoors. 3 staircases etc. Used materials are brickwork, concrete, timber, plaster, limestone

The plan has been drawn in an L-form around the tree because, ‘nowadays it’s very difficult to get rid a of tree’ as Marie José says. The toilet is still outside, the interior and furniture is simple because she has no need for luxury.

The connection between outside and inside is very interesting. The high windows in the front façade and the columns, or walls because Van Hee only works with walls, never with columns, at the patio.

The Windows in the front are above the normal hight for a person to watch outside. This, not only to give the passengers in street no chance to watch inside but also the catch the light from the front because the Pig Street is such a small street.