Sliding facade on rails hides and reveals this glass house

At first glance, this house doesn't look like anything special and gives the impression of being a normal wooden barn, until you realize that the entire outer covering (the wooden part) is able to slide back and forth, as if it were a second skin. Called The Sliding House, the residence is made up of three separate volumes made of different materials, ranging from natural or colored wood, to red PVC and glass, over which a 20-ton larch wood structure slides, modifying the configuration of the home, lighting and the perception of internal spaces. The project in Huntingfield, Suffolk, in the interior of the United Kingdom, is designed by Alex de Rijke, director of the London office dRMM Architects, and was initially conceived as a weekend retreat for a resident who wanted to entertain friends and grow his own food with his wife. However, the result was so much beyond expectations that the building became his full-time home and office and has already become the chosen place for the client to enjoy his retirement, in addition to housing a grape plantation for the wine making. The exterior layout of the house can be changed according to the needs of the residents, the time of day and changes in weather conditions by sliding the roof over a total length of 28 m. The movable element weighs 50 tons and moves on fixed rails on the ground - the system is powered by four hidden car batteries charged by solar panels on the roof (they can also be charged from sockets). The whole process takes six minutes and is smooth and silent.

In summer, the glazed body becomes a kind of greenhouse, which maintains a constant temperature also using the shade of the wood bark, while in winter a photovoltaic system allows the house to be heated with minimal environmental impact. The project encompasses three separate buildings (house, garage and guest annex) and was built with the intention for the owners to grow food, entertain and enjoy the landscape from the structure. There is even the option to extend the roof system beyond its current length to cover a pool if the owners want to add one in the future. Inside, there are adaptable rooms, designed so that they can be sheltered or opened to the sky, depending on the weather. The innovative residential project was completed in 2009 and was the winner of the 2009 Royal Institute of British Architects East Award and winner of “Best New-Build” and “Home of the Year” at the 2009 Grand Designs Awards. See the structure in operation in the video below.