House DMD by Fabrikat Arhitektura

The design and location of the building was dependant on the sloping land, surrounded by pastures on the east side, and restricted on the west and north side by a narrow access path and existing buildings. The two-storey house is anchored on the edge of the meadow without major modifications; because of the partially underground ground storey, structure and thoughtful planting of the slopes, it blends well with surrounding nature and does evoke a sense of a high massive volume, while maintaining the quality of living for existing residents of nearby houses.

The design is based on the typological characteristics of residential construction in the Gorenjska region: an elongated building, covered with a gable roof, with an external corridor – porch at storey level. The façade of the base or ground floor was usually covered by plaster or stone, while the storey and roof were covered by wood. The house imitates the characteristics in terms of material appearance, except that its base with the external wood-covered corridor is on the ground floor, with a monolith in light tones laid on top.

The building is architecturally designed as an elongated volume, shaped on the south side as a frame embracing the glazed surfaces and the covered entrance, ending in a semi-transparent wall in front of the entrance. The main volume is covered by a gable roof and placed on the half-buried wood base, shifted and embedded in the ground. The basic volume on the storey level is perpendicularly crossed by the full wooden service wall, intended for parking, the main entrance, cloakroom and toilet, and in the back of the terrace the summer kitchen and brick oven, which are hidden behind façade panels. Where the wall ends, a covered entrance hall with a passage to the garden and the outdoor roofed living space is created.

The predominant load-bearing structure made of cross-laminated timber (CLT) contains 72 cubic metres of wood; only the foundation slab and walls, which are partially or completely dug into the ground, are made of reinforced concrete. Individual steel profiles help bridge the large spans. The building is covered by thermal insulation from wood fibre boards, and the façade is a combination of classic plaster and Slovenian larch wood panelling. Glazing is three-layered, all hidden and visible window frames are made of wood.

The living and resting areas are arranged and designed to direct attention towards the most beautiful views in all aspects of living and moving through the rooms. The floor plan of the ground floor, which is intended for sleeping and service areas, is designed in a circle around the staircase. Sleeping rooms open onto the lawn through wooden window frames, while the buried part of the floor has service areas that do not need daylight, but require a constant temperature throughout the year without additional heating or cooling. The circular design is also typical on the first storey, entirely used for the living room that faces the valley with a panoramic wall.

The open kitchen, dining and sitting area encircle the tiled stove and the interior staircase. Due to the energy efficiency of the building and large solar gains, this stove is the only source used to heat the living area on cloudy winter days, while the heat of the air-water pump is used only to heat bathroom radiators and the entrance.

The design of the interior follows the architectural design of the building, and the wooden vertical construction supports built-in furniture elements that are also covered with wood. These create a pleasant living ambience, where everything can find its own place, while allowing a free, flowing space and maintaining a focus on the highest quality of the location – nature.