brick-tiled canopy doubles as playground for OFIS architects’ frame house in slovenia

frame house by OFIS architects reveals a united volume, with a tree planted under the canopy for a visual accent.

lea zeitoun March 15, 2024 3 min

frame house by OFIS completes in Ljubljana, slovenia

Slovenian practice OFIS Architects completes Frame House in the suburbs near the Ljubljana city center, surrounded mostly by single residences and a busy road. The clients requested a three-bedroom brick dwelling not exceeding 200 square meters and hosting a large living space, guest bedroom/study, and storage for a carport, bike, and garden storage next to the entrance. Given the existing old garden on the plot, OFIS positioned the house in a way that would keep most of the existing lawn and trees but also have a paved area by the entrance where kids could play or roller-skate.

brick-tiled canopy doubles as playground for OFIS architects' frame house in slovenia - 1 — all images © Tomaz Gregoric

covered carport / playground designed as main visual accent

The covered carport became the main feature of the Frame House by OFIS (see more here), creating a sort of canopy that highlights the main entrance. Functionally, this area protects the cars but also represents a playground where kids can play in bad weather. A tree was also planted under the canopy to accentuate the entrance area. Visually, the canopy, storage, and residence create a united volume assembled with red brick tiles that cover vertical and inclined planes and build a perforated lace structure in front of service rooms.

brick-tiled canopy doubles as playground for OFIS architects' frame house in slovenia - 2 — Frame House is located in the suburbs near the Ljubljana city center

The enclosed facade and canopy also offer acoustic isolation from the busy road and intimacy to the interiors of the Frame House. The garden facade, meanwhile, is flat and simple with large shaded windows that allow southern sunlight to enter the living spaces, which OFIS designed to be simple and functional. Spaces are optimized and offer many rooms and services within the 200 square meters. Some areas combine double functions, like stairs that double as bookshelves or a study room with a folded king-size bed that functions as a guest bedroom.