House for Two

In the Bratislava district of Nové Mesto, the then General Building Cooperative constructed an extensive residential zone during the war years. Uniform two-story row houses differed only slightly in layout variations. The original construction was characterized by quality spatial, structural, and material solutions. The cohesive appearance of the settlement began to change more significantly in the 1990s, when many of the original houses were rebuilt, extended, or substantially modified. Some of the consequences of construction activities are now irreversible, but despite adverse interventions, Ľudová štvrť has retained its original atmosphere and urban qualities.

The intention of the design was to highlight the architectural legacy of the Ľudová štvrť's family homes and bring qualities of contemporary living into them in the context of the evolving climate. The balance between the technical equipment of current homes and the qualities of traditional construction methods formed the basis of the design's sustainability. Our architectural ego yielded to the values of the home. The new utilitarian interior enhances the original architecture. The modesty of the design in volume left space for the application of quality natural materials. The original genius loci is reinforced by sensitive layout adjustments, new architectural contributions, and enriched by the softness of clay plaster, the warmth of oiled wood, and the scent of hemp insulation.

The adjustment of the layout primarily involved opening up the ground floor. The daytime zone of the house has been transformed into a central living space, illuminated from both sides. We chose technical and material solutions with a focus on the quality of the indoor environment. Examples include solid oak doors and window frames that replicate the period solution (an interesting feature being the metal grilles originating from the original fillings).

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