‘alpine ski apartments’ by OFIS architects, kranjska gora, slovenia image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada all images courtesy of OFIS architects 

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.    
 

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsview from the back image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

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.  

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentslarch balconies are above the entrance to the pharmacy  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartments (left) side view featuring full glazing  (right) view of cement tile cladding  images © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsstreet view  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartments side view as users approach the building  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsangled roof gives the structure a less dominant appearance  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartments the balcony railing is composed of larch wood at different heights  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartments

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

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsinterior view of the stairs  image © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsdetail of handrails  images © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartments sloped windows on the top floor  images © tomaz gregoric and jan celada

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsconcept drawing of how the form came to be 

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentssite plan

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsfloor plan / level 0

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsfloor plan / level 1-2

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsfloor plan / level -1

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsfloor plan / roof level

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentssections

OFIS architects: alpine ski apartmentsfacade from all four directions 

project info:

location: kranjska gora

type: housing apartments
client:  GRADIS G group d.d
site area:  462 m2
building area:  177 m2
gross floor area: 457 m2
coverage ratio: 0,38
gross gloor gatio: 0,98
structure: reinforced concrete and steel
max height: 11.7 m
landscape area: 180 m2
inner space: 439 m2
design team: rok oman, spela videcnik, andrej gregoric, janja del linz, anna breda