OFIS architects: alpine ski apartments

slovenian practice OFIS architects has completed ‘alpine ski apartments’, a building in the small north-western town of kranjska gora, slovenia. the shape of the structure is largely dictated by the plot size and strict building requirements. once the maximum dimensions were established, the volume was manipulated by removing horizontal and vertical blocks of space from the main mass. the inward sloping roof and horizontal cut conceals the chimneys and ventilation pipes. the elimination of the corners produces voids for balconies. 

 

the housing complex consists of four storeys with a public pharmacy on the ground floor. the first and second levels have six separate apartment units. the flexible layouts of various sizes take into consideration the possibility of being combined into larger spaces in the future. the floor to ceiling glazing allows for unobstructed views of the mountainous region. a common area in the basement is reserved for the residents featuring a sauna and leisure room.    

 

the materials have been chosen to emulate the existing environment, while adding the durability and conveniences of modern building elements. the facade consists of patterned cement tile cladding, an interpretation of the slate tile roofs typically found in the region. instead of limiting the texture to the roof, it has been brought down and wrapped around the exterior to create a continuous skin. to emphasize the form, the warm tones in the larch wood used for the balconies contrast the monochromatic gray cement. this gives the impression that the building has been cut to reveal the external spaces. a vernacular stacked stone at the ground level replaces the cement indicating the internal separation between the private and public areas.  

larch balconies are above the entrance to the pharmacy  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

(left) side view featuring full glazing  (right) view of cement tile cladding  images © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

street view  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

side view as users approach the building  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

angled roof gives the structure a less dominant appearance  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

the balcony railing is composed of larch wood at different heights  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada