Architecture

OLS house provides views from the gaping jaws of a dinosaur

OLS house provides views from the gaping jaws of a dinosaur
The side exterior view of the OLS House is designed to resemble a dinosaur's head
The side exterior view of the OLS House is designed to resemble a dinosaur's head
View 16 Images
The bathroom doesn't look like it's going to eat you at all
1/16
The bathroom doesn't look like it's going to eat you at all
The kitchen of the dinosaur house
2/16
The kitchen of the dinosaur house
One of the stairways inside the OLS House
3/16
One of the stairways inside the OLS House
The side exterior view of the OLS House is designed to resemble a dinosaur's head
4/16
The side exterior view of the OLS House is designed to resemble a dinosaur's head
The desk of the OLS House
5/16
The desk of the OLS House
Another shot of the staircase
6/16
Another shot of the staircase
The view from inside is actually quite peaceful
7/16
The view from inside is actually quite peaceful
The main living space in the OLS House
8/16
The main living space in the OLS House
The floor to ceiling windows make up the dino's mouth
9/16
The floor to ceiling windows make up the dino's mouth
The side window make the dinosaur's eye
10/16
The side window make the dinosaur's eye
It almost looks like it's smiling
11/16
It almost looks like it's smiling
The OLS House intentionally looks like a dinosaur
12/16
The OLS House intentionally looks like a dinosaur
The side view of the floor plan for the OLS House
13/16
The side view of the floor plan for the OLS House
The second floor plan of the OLS House
14/16
The second floor plan of the OLS House
The first floor plan of the OLS House
15/16
The first floor plan of the OLS House
The ground floor of the OLS House
16/16
The ground floor of the OLS House
View gallery - 16 images

At Gizmag, we're suckers for interesting looking houses. We've covered the world's narrowest house, houses made from a shipping containers, and so many other interesting abodes. One thing we've not seen before is a house with a profile that mimics the shape of a dinosaur's head, that is until we encountered the OLS House.

The OLS House is built entirely out of reinforced concrete, while the facade is made with a heat-insulating compound system, aluminum and glass. It sits three stories high, and currently houses a family of four. While it might resemble a tough dinosaur when viewed from the outside, there is nothing scary looking about the inside of the house, which features sleek, rounded lines throughout.

The mouth of the dinosaur is actually quite functional, serving as an opening for floor to ceiling windows that provide a view of a valley in Stuttgart, Germany where the house is built. In fact, the entirety of the house was designed around bringing the view of the valley to life. The windows on the side of the house cleverly mimic the eyes on the side of a dinosaur's head, finishing off the intriguing look.

The floor to ceiling windows make up the dino's mouth
The floor to ceiling windows make up the dino's mouth

Each of the three floors within the home connect via a sculptural staircase that is as much as showpiece of the house as it is a functional way to get from floor to floor. The ground floor houses a utility room and spa, the first floor houses the open concept living, dining and kitchen area, and the top floor contains the bedrooms and bathrooms.

This interesting looking house was designed by German architect Jürgen Mayer H for a private client. It actually sits rather conspicuously in a fairly standard suburban neighborhood amongst homes that were built in the 1960s that certainly don't have the OLS House's unique design.

Source: J Mayer H via Dezeen

View gallery - 16 images
5 comments
5 comments
Slowburn
The problem with building concrete houses is the cost in labor and materials for the forms.
Bill Bennett
oh Slowburn, always negative, how about how long it will exist, do you think about that? Nope
BigGoofyGuy
I think it is one really cool looking house. The title of the article is slightly misleading in that I thought it would be more dinosaur shaped instead of a stylised one. I think it is really nice. I would not mind living in such a cool place.
Slowburn
re; Bill Bennett
It is a little thing called economic reality. A perfect solution that you can not afford is not a perfect solution.
Thomas Edison tried to solve the cost of forming problem with concrete houses and failed; it's a big problem. I would however move into one of his concrete houses without a qualm.
jaycee
@Bill Bennet. Not necessary to be so brash with Slowburn. The man is expressing an opinion and based on my experience in residential home building he has a valid point. There are more facets to this topic than purely life-span of the building. Lovely place and construction will certainly have to be done under very expert management.