VERTICAL GLASS HOUSE BY ATELIER FCJZ

A housing prototype in Shanghai that was twenty-two years in the making

Vertical Glass House turns our concept of modern privacy on its head. With no real external windows, the house entirely shuts out its surroundings, however the interior is a model of transparency. The floors of the house are made of glass, which challenges our tendency to open our homes to the exterior with windows and yet wall them off internally.

Designed by Yung Ho Chang, the Vertical Glass House was originally a submission to the 1991 Shinkenchiku Residential Design Competition and received an Honorable Mention. It was finally brought to life in 2013 by West Bund Biennale of Architecture and Contemporary Art in Shanghai, working closely with Chang and Atelier FCJZ to remain true to the original plans.

The walls are made of concrete that was cast in rough wooden on the exterior and smooth wood on the exterior to create textural contrast. Steel serves as the structural support with a single steel post in the center and radiating steel beams to structure the 7 cm-thick glass floors.

West Bund will use The Vertical Glass House as an architectural exhibition and one-room guest house for visiting artists and architects.