Nathan Eddy, Freelance WriterMarch 24, 20255 Min ReadWavebreakmedia Ltd FUS1407 via Alamy StockCloud storage was once hailed as a cost-effective solution for businesses, but hidden fees and unpredictable costs are causing widespread financial strain.More than half of businesses globally have experienced IT or business delays due to unexpected cloud storage expenses, and 62% of organizations exceeded their cloud budgets last year, according to a report from Wasabia.As chief information officers and IT leaders reassess cloud spending, many are looking for new strategies to prevent waste, improve forecasting, and better manage their data storage policies.Soumya Gangopadhyay, technology strategist at EY, points to a lack of financial transparency and poor forecasting as key reasons why cloud costs spiral out of control. Certain issues arise when organizations dont track IT costs in a way that enables breaking out expenses to support analysis or forecasts, he says. Data egress fees, complex storage tiering, and sudden spikes in data processing all contribute to budget overruns.He cautions that without clear visibility into usage and cost structures, companies would struggle to predict expenses, leading to unforeseen financial burdens.Egress Fees, Over-Provisioning Drive Up CostsOne of the biggest financial pitfalls in cloud storage is egress fees, the costs incurred when transferring data out of a cloud providers ecosystem.Related:These fees, often overlooked in budgeting, can add up quickly and disrupt IT operations.Will Milewski, senior vice president of cloud infrastructure and operations at Hyland, notes businesses frequently underestimate the impact of egress fees. With regulatory shifts like the European Data Act prompting major providers to adjust these fees, organizations are still challenged by unanticipated usage that drives up costs, he says via email.He explains IT leaders can mitigate these impacts by consolidating data within a single ecosystem, employing intelligent tiering strategies, and utilizing data compression or deduplication techniques.Beyond egress fees, companies are also over-provisioning cloud resources, paying for storage they dont fully utilize.Many organizations, eager to embrace cloud agility, end up spending more than necessary due to a lack of integrated visibility across their data assets.Cost overruns often stem from over-provisioning, unpredictable data growth, and the complexity of managing diverse data workloads, Milewski says. By leveraging unified platforms, companies can streamline workflows, improve forecasting, and right-size storage needs.Related:The Challenge of Cloud Cost TransparencyWhile cloud providers offer cost management tools, many organizations find pricing models too complex to navigate effectively.Gangopadhyay explains some cloud providers obscure costs through complicated pricing structures, making it difficult for IT teams to plan accordingly. Not all providers offer robust tools for forecasting costs based on usage patterns, which is another factor organizations should consider when working with a cloud provider, he says.Milewski echoes this concern, pointing out that cloud providers are offering more AI-driven cost management tools, but expertise is required to use them effectively. Were seeing cloud providers introduce reserved pricing models, savings plans, and AI-driven cost dashboards, he says. However, many pricing structures remain complex, requiring organizations to build in-house expertise or partner with specialized vendors.Without dedicated cost management teams or external partners, businesses often struggle to fully optimize cloud spending.IT Leaders Take Control of Cloud CostsCIOs and IT leaders can execute several proactive measures as they look to regain control of their cloud budgets.Related:Gangopadhyay suggests implementing real-time monitoring tools, resource tagging taxonomies, and predictive analytics to improve cost forecasting. Organizations need to have a clear understanding or adherence to existing capabilities and performance -- without it, engineering workload performance can be a challenge, he says.By leveraging historical data and automating governance policies, businesses can eliminate waste and prevent unexpected cost spikes.Milewski advises companies to audit their storage policies and shift to a more strategic, tiered approach. Optimizing storage begins with aligning data policies to actual usage, he says. Prioritizing high-performance tiers for critical content while shifting less-accessed data to real solutions ensures cost efficiency without compromising performance or compliance.He also highlights automation and AI-driven insights as key tools for identifying redundancies and reducing expenses.Another crucial step is building a chargeback model that aligns IT costs with business strategy.Gangopadhyay says he believes organizations should implement chargeback mechanisms that assign storage costs to individual business units, making cloud expenses more transparent.Developing an enterprise chargeback strategy ensures that cloud spending is directly tied to business objectives, he says.By making business units accountable for their storage usage, companies can drive more responsible cloud consumption.The Future of Cloud Cost ManagementAs cloud storage pricing evolves, IT leaders must stay ahead of emerging trends to keep costs under control.Gangopadhyay says he expects increased competition among cloud providers, which could lead to more dynamic pricing models. We can expect to see more providers adopting real-time usage-based pricing and offering incentives for eco-friendly storage options, he says.Companies that embrace flexible budgeting practices and sustainable cloud solutions will be better positioned to navigate shifting cost structures.Milewski predicts that AI and automation will play a bigger role in optimizing cloud spending.The cloud storage landscape is evolving toward more dynamic, consumption-based pricing models, he says. Businesses will need to embrace FinOps practices, leveraging advanced analytics and automated tools, to adapt to these trends.FinOps, or cloud financial management, is becoming increasingly critical for organizations aiming to turn unpredictable expenses into predictable, manageable investments.Gangopadhyay stresses the key to reducing waste is aligning cloud costs with business goals.Reducing cloud expenses comes down to aligning business goals with business costs, he says. Organizations can better identify and eliminate unnecessary or redundant data by implementing automated policies, conducting regular audits, and establishing clear retention guidelines.Milewski underscores the importance of staying ahead of pricing trends and investing in cost optimization strategies.By leveraging automation, real-time monitoring, and AI-driven insights, companies can ensure that their cloud investments remain both strategic and cost-efficient.Businesses that combine modern infrastructure with intelligent cost management can empower themselves to navigate future challenges effectively, he says.About the AuthorNathan EddyFreelance WriterNathan Eddy is a freelance writer for InformationWeek. He has written for Popular Mechanics, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine, FierceMarkets, and CRN, among others. In 2012 he made his first documentary film, The Absent Column. He currently lives in Berlin.See more from Nathan EddyReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

Superacids can turn carbon molecules into diamondsSefa Kart/AlamyWater may transform into a superacidic fluid under extreme heat and pressure. These conditions are found only in Earths interior, within icy planets like Uranus and Neptune and possibly in controlled laboratory experiments.Under immense pressures and temperatures, water exhibits a remarkable property it becomes an exceptionally potent acid, also known as a superacid, which can be billions or even trillions of times stronger than sulphuric acid, says Flavio Siro Brigiano at Sorbonne University in France.This

A warning sign in Greenland about tsunamis caused by icebergsODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty ImagesRising temperatures in the Arctic are causing glaciers to retreat onto land, exposing thousands of kilometres of coastline in Greenland and other areas with potential geopolitical consequences.Jan Kavan at the University of South Bohemia in the Czech Republic and his colleagues used satellite imagery taken in 2000 and 2020 to track changes in marine-terminating glaciers across the northern hemisphere. They found that almost 2500 kilometres of new coastline had emerged over this period due to glaciers retreating onto land, with two-thirds of this

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Why handing over total control to AI agents would be a huge mistake Margaret Mitchell, Avijit Ghosh, Sasha Luccioni, Giada Pistilli all work for Hugging Face, an open source AI company. AI agents have set the tech industry abuzz. Unlike chatbots, these groundbreaking new systems can navigate multiple applications to execute complex tasks, like scheduling meetings or shopping online, in response to simple user commands. As agents become more capable, a crucial question emerges: How much control are we willing to surrender, and at what cost? The promise is compelling. Who doesnt want assistance with cumbersome work or tasks theres no time for? But this vision for AI agents brings significant risks that might be overlooked in the rush toward greater autonomy. In fact, our research suggests that agent development could be on the cusp of a very serious misstep. Read the full story.OpenAI has released its first research into how using ChatGPT affects peoples emotional wellbeing OpenAI says over 400 million people use ChatGPT every week. But how does interacting with it affect us? Does it make us more or less lonely? These are some of the questions OpenAI set out to investigate, in partnership with the MIT Media Lab, in a pair of new studies. They found that while only a small subset of users engage emotionally with ChatGPT, there are some intriguing differences between how men and women respond to using the chatbot. They also found that participants who trusted and bonded with ChatGPT more were likelier than others to be lonely, and to rely on it more.Chatbots powered by large language models are still a nascent technology, and difficult to study. Thats why this kind of research is an important first step toward greater insight into ChatGPTs impact on us, which could help AI platforms enable safer and healthier interactions. Read the full story. Rhiannon Williams The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Genetic testing firm 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy protection Following months of uncertainty over its future. (CNN)+ Tens of millions of peoples genetic data could soon belong to a new owner. (WSJ $)+ How to delete your 23andMe data. (MIT Technology Review)2 Europe wants to lessen its reliance of US cloud giants But thats easier said than done. (Wired $)3 Anduril is considering opening a drone factory in the UK Europe is poised to invest heavily in defenseand Anduril wants in. (Bloomberg $)+ The company recently signed a major drone contract with the UK government. (Insider $)+ We saw a demo of the new AI system powering Andurils vision for war. (MIT Technology Review)4 Bird flu has been detected in a sheep in the UK Its the first known instance of the virus infecting a sheep. (FT $)+ But the UK is yet to report any transmission to humans. (Reuters)+ How the US is preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic. (MIT Technology Review)5 A tiny town in the Alps has emerged as an ALS hotspotSuggesting that its causes may be more environmental than genetic. (The Atlantic $) + Motor neuron diseases took their voices. AI is bringing them back. (MIT Technology Review)6 Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost lunar lander has completed its missionAnd captured some pretty incredible footage along the way. (NYT $) + Europe is finally getting serious about commercial rockets. (MIT Technology Review) 7 How the US could save billions of dollars in wasted energy WSJ $) 8 We need new ways to measure painResearchers are searching for objective biological indicators to get rid of the guesswork. (WP $) + Brain waves can tell us how much pain someone is in. (MIT Technology Review)9 What falling in love with an AI could look like Its unclear whether loving machines could be training grounds for future relationships, or the future of relationships themselves. (New Yorker $)+ The AI relationship revolution is already here. (MIT Technology Review)10 Could you walk in a straight line for hundreds of miles? YouTubes favorite new challenge isnt so much arduous as it is inconvenient. (The Guardian)Quote of the day Blockbuster has collapsed. Its time for Netflix to rise. Kian Sadeghi pitches the company they founded, DNA testing firm Nucleus Genomics, as a replacement for 23andMe in a post on X. The big story This towns mining battle reveals the contentious path to a cleaner future January 2024 In June last year, Talon, an exploratory mining company, submitted a proposal to Minnesota state regulators to begin digging up as much as 725,000 metric tons of raw ore per year, mainly to unlock the rich and lucrative reserves of high-grade nickel in the bedrock. Talon is striving to distance itself from the mining industrys dirty past, portraying its plan as a clean, friendly model of modern mineral extraction. It proclaims the site will help to power a greener future for the US by producing the nickel needed to manufacture batteries for electric cars and trucks, but with low emissions and light environmental impacts. But as the company has quickly discovered, a lot of locals arent eager for major mining operations near their towns. Read the full story. James Temple We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Who are fandoms for, and who gets to escape into them? + A long-lost Klimt painting of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona has gone on display in the Netherlands.+ Feeling down? These feel-good movies will pick you right up.+ Why Gen Z are dedicated followers of Old Money fashion.

2025-03-24T14:23:45Z Read in app Sam Nivola and Patrick Schwarzenegger in "The White Lotus" season three. Fabio Lovino/HBO This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Each season of "The White Lotus" has featured an eye-opening sex scene. Sam Nivola, who plays Lochlan, said the controversial sex scene in season three was the first of his career. Nivola said the show's creator, Mike White, helped him interpret the intimacy co-ordinator's "stale" language.Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "The White Lotus" season three.Sam Nivola, who plays Lochlan on season three of "The White Lotus," said the show's creator Mike White helped him understand the intimacy co-ordinator's sometimes "stale" language when filming a controversial incest scene. In episode five, Lochlan kisses his older brother Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) during a drinking game. As they try to piece together their night of drink, drugs, and partying, flashbacks in episode six confirm that Lochlan had sex with Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) while pleasuring Saxon with his hand. Recalling filming the first sex scene of his career, Nivola told Variety that having White on set helped cut through any confusion between him and the intimacy co-ordinator. "They're always using anatomically correct vocabulary that feels stale and awkward. I'd be like, 'I don't know if I can grasp the shaft,' and then Mike would be like, 'Just jerk him off.' And I'd be like, 'OK, that I understand.' I do think intimacy coordinators are a great innovation," he said. Nivola also said: "Yeah, I was totally nervous. I'm a very anxious person, so I'm always nervous, especially on a big job like that. Doing the sex scene was nerve-racking, and we were on a boat, and I get seasick, so that was fucking stressful."The actual scene itself went smoothly. Mike White was sort of calming about it, and I really trusted Patrick and Charlotte."There has been plenty of debate surrounding the use of intimacy coordinators in recent years. Jenefer Odell, who was an intimacy coordinator on Netflix's "Sex Education," previously told Business Insider that her role allows actors to have more autonomy when shooting films scenes involving sex and nudity. However, some stars feel that coordinators can hinder creativity. Last week, Gwyneth Paltrow said she felt "stifled" by them when filming with Timothee Chalamet.Mike White said he wants to make gay sex "transgressive again."The scene is part of a trend in "The White Lotus" where sex is used as a point of self-reflection for characters.In the first season, a member of staff at the hotel is surprised when he walks in on the hotel manager Armand (Murray Bartlett) with his face in a concierge's butt.In season two, Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) walks in on Quentin (Tom Hollander) having sex with Jack (Leo Woodall), who had been falsely introduced as his nephew. Sam Nivola in "The White Lotus" season three. Fabio Lovino/HBO In a conversation with Variety in 2022 after season two aired, Mike White, the show's creator,"There's a pleasure to me as a guy who is gay-ish to make gay sex transgressive again. It's dirty men are having sex and you have this 'Psycho' music underneath. It just amuses me."I just think transgressive sex is sexier. I guess I'm old school. There's this Gothic vibe of walking through a haunted hotel or haunted house and people are having sex behind closed doors," he said.

2025-03-24T14:14:34Z Read in app This Chinese-language Bible from the early 19th century sold for 56,280, or about $73,000. Bonhams This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? A Chinese-language Bible donated to a UK charity thrift store sold for $72,902 at auction.The Bible, dated between 1815 and 1822, was initially valued at $777-$1,036.Oxfam workers said they were shocked at how much the rare book sold for.When a team of volunteers at a charity thrift store specializing in secondhand books discovered a Chinese-language Bible among a pile of donations, they suspected it might be worth some money.However, they were in disbelief when it eventually sold at auction for 56,280, the equivalent of $72,902. The money will go to the charity.Nick Reeves, the manager of the Oxfam charity bookstore in Chelmsford, England, said in a press statement that two of their volunteers found the book while rummaging through a pile of donations and "suspected it could be worth something."It was taken to an auction house in London, where specialists initially valued it at between $777 and $1,036.But when the bidding started, the price kept climbing, attracting a final price far exceeding the initial valuation almost $72,000 above the upper estimate."When it finally ended, I was in complete shock," Reeves said. "We were absolutely speechless."It turned out that the book was the first known complete printed Bible translated into Chinese, the auction house, Bonhams, said in its listing.Ian Falkingham, Oxfam's Donated Goods Strategy Lead, told Business Insider that "we could never have expected it."Falkingham told BI that every donation is meaningful to Oxfam, but it is "extra special" when something of this value comes along.The Bible, the first-known translation into Chinese, was jointly translated by John Lassar, a Macao-born Armenian scholar of Chinese, and Joshua Marshman, a Baptist missionary in India who studied the language under him.The book is dated from between 1815 and 1822."The Lassar and Marshman Chinese translation of the Bible was an exceedingly rare item, which we could not trace at auction previously," said Lorenza Gay, an associate specialist in books and manuscripts at Bonhams.The Bible was sold last Thursday after two weeks of intense bidding, and was among two dozen books auctioned at Bonhams that week that had been donated to various Oxfam stores.In total, the books raised over $135,000 for the charity, and included the sale of a first edition of Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" for $21,542 and a signed copy of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" from 1989, which sold for the equivalent of $2,983.Falkingham said of Oxfam: "We are the largest chain of secondhand bookshops in Europe, and you really never know what books might be donated, who they might be written by, or how much they will be worth."

Are we going back to Kratos youth? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)Sony will launch a God Of War side story in 2025, according to a source, as the series looks set to return to Ancient Greece.The future of God Of War was left on an open-ended note after God Of War Ragnark and its Valhalla DLC, with no clear indication of what could come next.The ending of God Of War Ragnark left open the possibility of a separate adventure led by Atreus, with rumours of a half-sequel, but other possibilities have also been suggested, like a pivot to Ancient Egypt or a return to Ancient Greece with a young Kratos.A new rumour has given further credence to the latter, claiming that a new game set in Greece will launch this year.The news comes from notable insider Jeff Grubb, who posted an update on Bluesky after God Of Wars 20th anniversary went by without any news of a new game, or the rumoured remastered collection of the original trilogy.Returning to his own post about the rumours of a remastered collection, Grubb wrote: Everyone keeps asking about this, so Ive tried to find out more: theres still a Greek God Of War thing coming out this year, but its not a remaster collection. Its a new side story project.He added: I was never told about a remaster collection, but I asked a source about the rumours (that I saw were focused on a collection) and they told me that nothing God Of War would happen at the State Of Play but something could show up at the anniversary.In the replies to the post, Grubb clarifed this project is a video game which is separate to God Of War Ragnark, so it wont be additional DLC. He doesnt have any information on when it could be announced, but if it is out this year, the next likely possibility is a future State Of Play or during Summer Game Fest in June.The side story description makes it sound like a standalone spin-off similar to Spider-Man: Miles Morales or Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.The previous rumour around a return to Ancient Greece the period of the original God Of War trilogy suggested it would revolve around a younger Kratos in a storyline about the relationship with his father, aka Zeus.More TrendingWhile this new rumour doesnt make any mention of it being a prequel or involving Kratos at all, it is perhaps the logical assumption, if true.Kratos history has been pretty well covered in various prequels already though, between God Of War: Ascension and 2008 PSP game God Of War: Chains Of Olympus, so its difficult to imagine what new ground they could cover.The jump back to Ancient Greece does make some sort of sense after God Of War Ragnarks Valhalla DLC though, which featured multiple callbacks to the Greek trilogy.Also, a new God Of War project would fill a significant gap in Sonys 2025 release slate, with only Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Ghost Of Ytei confirmed for this year. Old man Kratos might be over (Sony Interactive Entertainment)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Like its previous surveillance cameras, Philips Hues next smart home product isnt changing colors or brightening the waning light of smart home tech. Instead, the company may be looking a little red in the face after it self-leaked an upcoming Ring-like smart doorbell for its Hue Secure products. Based on what little we know about Philips Hues upcoming doorbell, it may be relatively barebones and may need a physical power connection at all times. One Philips Hue user spotted that the company listed a secure doorbell under its no QR code menu for products you cant connect to without establishing a Bluetooth and WiFi connection. Writers at the smart home blog Hueblog shared screenshots of the supposed device and its connectivity requirements. Philips Hues latest supposed security product looks to be very standard, with a camera on the upper portion and the doorbell control on the bottom. Unfortunately, the images dont offer much insight into the doorbells specs, especially the size of its camera sensor. Most doorbell cameras from brands like Blink and Ring offer 1080p head-to-toe video of your porch. Both of those camera setups also work off of motion detection, something Philips Hue already has built into its Hue Security cameras and outdoor spotlights. Theres also the bummer possibility that there wont be battery-operated option. The leak suggests the product needs to be properly wired for power. In that case, users will need to physically wire it into their home. Gizmodo reached out to Philips Hue for comment, but we did not immediately hear back. At the very least it could be cheaper than doorbells with batteries. Rings battery-operated doorbells cost twice as much as those with wired-only connections. But it also means Philips Hues model will be useless for anybody who lives in a rented property or in an older home without those wired connections already in place.I only wish Philips Hue would do something different with its outdoor security suite. Judging by the leak, theres not much to get excited about with this iteration of an already staid design. Why not get weird with it? Why not have a doorbell that strobes with light, as excited as a puppy whenever a delivery person drops off another package. I say, lets make our porches look as fun as our living rooms.

The whole of time and space, anything and anywhere, and it seems like the biggest thing on the mind ofDoctor Whos latest companion,Andors Varada Sethu, is Earth. But before she gets back home, it looks like shes going to be whisked on some weird and wonderful adventures across, time, space, and yes, even some relative dimensions too. The BBC and Disney have dropped a new trailer forDoctor Whos return next month, give us our best look yet at what to expect from the latest season of the show. We get to see what looks like a good chunk of the first episode that sees Sethus new companion, a nurse named Belinda Chandra, whisked into the Doctors orbitbut we also do get to see a few intriguing teases of adventures to come. One big thing that seems to tie this all together?Something has happened to the Earth. As much as Belinda wants to get home, it seems like through a mix of issues with the TARDISeven moreso than usualand something far sinister, since it seems like other humans across the future have no idea that the planet exists, the Doctor and Belinda are going to have to take the long way round to get back. Thevery long way round. At least so far that extended trip back looks pretty fun! Theres some killer teases here: new monsters, new dangers, endless new looks for Gatwa to save the day in. We even get another fleeting glimpse at Alan Cummings animated new villain Mr Ring-a-Ding, who seems to get the Doctor and Belinda themselves in on the 2D action too.Doctor Who returns to Disney+ around the world, and the BBC in the UK, on Saturday, April 12. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Villa Sidonius / Stempel & Tesar ArchitektiSave this picture! Filip lapalArchitects: Stempel & Tesar ArchitektiAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:322 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Filip lapalManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Air-Lux, Gaggenau, Kaldewei, Vibia, Alape, Grohe, M&T, Axor, Desalto, Desiree, Huppe, JABLOTRON, KFF, Kef, LAGO, REHAU, RIHO, Stiebel Eltron, SunFurl, Tecomat, +2More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!ernoice's villa district is a spectacular collection of unique family homes at the northern and western foot of Babka Hill that stand out from their surroundings as one approaches on the road from Prague. Since the villa district dates back to the early twentieth century, it is home to Art Nouveau and First Republic villas. After 1989, ernoice once again became a popular place to construct showcase residential buildings, including in this neighborhood. The locality possesses a strong character that is not defined by any one architectural style as much as by the buildings' grandeur and scale. Located on steep plots of land, the houses stand out above a path carved into the hillside and lined by the gardens' retaining walls. Villa Sidonius was not going to be any different.Save this picture!Save this picture!The villa's steep property is located on the northern, shaded side of the terrain and is one of the steepest and highest in the neighborhood. This comes with several advantages but also disadvantages and challenges for the project. Without a doubt, the site's greatest asset is the beautiful view of the Berounka Valley, the hills of the Bohemian Karst, and the Prague skyline in the background. For this reason, the architects have attempted to bring this view into all the living spaces from the best possible angle. The northern slope suffers from a lack of sun, which for most of the day only shines on the highest part of the property an area that is difficult to reach along the steep slope. The architects were thus faced with the question of how to build the house as high as possible on the property while still providing ease of access.Save this picture!Their plan, which eliminates these disadvantages while working with these challenges and maximizing the property's merits, was founded on the concept of hanging houses. The winning form was a bridge-like structure on pillars. The building thus resembles a steel footbridge placed on a steep slope, where it has been turned to face the best northern views and southern sun. The prefabricated steel structure consists of an external load-bearing section made of HEB 300 profiles, which bridges the eighteen-meter distance between the monolithic reinforced concrete pillars, and of an internal constructional infill primarily consisting of IPE 160 profiles, which serves as a load-bearing framework for the windows, roof, and floors. The building is a structural, architectural, and technological experiment. There was neither the space nor the desire to design a house using traditional methods; instead, the goal was to find solutions that would push the envelope and test the latest technological products and equipment on the market, such as Swiss air-lux windows with patented air-assisted seals and a heating and cooling system with heat pumps to ensure a comfortable indoor climate all year round in a house with low heat storage capacity.Save this picture!The building is entered via an underground tunnel from the garage, where one will also find a studio and a fitness area. The tunnel leads to the foot of one of the pillars, where an elevator takes residents to the residential level, passing an intermediate stop with access to the service room. The home's heart is a cozy living room with a kitchen and dining area. From here, one can access the south-facing terrace, which connects the house with the vegetated terrain and the sunny upper part of the garden with a swimming pool. The protruding parts of the "bridge" contain two different worlds: the world of children's rooms on one end and the primary bedroom with bath and views on the other.Save this picture!Save this picture!Close collaboration with the landscape architect Vladimr Sitta led to the idea of a slate slope with birch trees a novel solution that is in harmony with the building's overall architectural design. Some of the design aspects, such as the pool and related elements, were the result of this joint effort between the architect and landscape designer. The house is the essence of a unique creative process, which involves not only architects but also a large team of specialists in the design and production of individual parts of the building. The owner of the house also occupies an exceptional position, whose involvement in the entire process of preparation and construction significantly influenced the overall result.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on March 24, 2025Cite: "Villa Sidonius / Stempel & Tesar Architekti" 24 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028194/villa-sidonius-stempel-and-tesar-architekti&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream