Magpies 3D Architectural Design : Backbone Village Houses

Slovenian architectural practice OFIS Arhitekti designed the contemporary yet affordable 3 bedroom housing development with private garden located in Podpec, Slovenia.

The main proposal was a condensation of village cores with branching – a traditional and historical rural layout of condensed longitudinal buildings along a road with kept green area around it.

OFIS Arhitekti

+ Project description by OFIS Arhitekti

Ljubljana is surrounded by numerous dense rural formations of different scales. Together by branching with the main urban core it forms the city. As the city is expanding outwards from the inner core, the urban and rural formations are slowly dissolving together.

With uncontrolled urban growth historical rural typologies are slowly losing their patterns, character and qualities. The village of Podpec is becoming a typical suburban area. Although surrounded by a wider green area with fields and wild nature, local resorts haven't any qualities in the new built environment. This project is part of an urban study for suburban areas outside Ljubljanas highway ring.

The main proposal was a condensation of village cores with branching – a traditional and historical rural layout of condensed longitudinal buildings along a road with kept green area around it. The internal road acts as a spinal cord with eight plots of longitudinal houses branching like ribs. These kind of plots with houses are a target for young families that can not afford to live in the centre and are looking for their own garden dissolving into the green surrounding.

3 bedroom houses with related garden and three external parking spaces were designed at 140-160.000 EUR each as an approximate budget that young couples can afford with a reasonable bank loan. Therefore, the basic concept had to be based on economical, rational and flexible issues. Each house has 2 floors, 55 m2 each. Each unit was finished at a stage without finished floors and sanitary elements in bathrooms.

The ground-floor consists of a central living area and kitchen with storage. The living area has the possibility of an additional room such as a guest-bedroom or working space and also opens to an elevated veranda and small inner garden. The first floor functions as a sleeping area providing 3 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms and wardrobe space. There is a long terrace with a pergola along the bedrooms. The pitched roof design allows space for a gallery or storage area. Materials are larch wood, plaster and glass.