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Lace apartments by OFIS ARCHITECTS

photo © Tomaz Gregorič

project: Lace apartments
commission 2004
construction start 2006
completed 2008
location: Nova Gorica, Slovenia

area: 6.500 m²

main client: Kraški Zidar d.d., Sezana, Slovenia
Structural engineering: Elea d.o.o.
mechanical engineering: Biro ES d.o.o.
electrical engineering Biro ES d.o.o.
traffic engineering: Tega invest d.o.o.
construction company: Kraški Zidar d.d.
project team (architecture): OFIS ARCHITECTS / Rok Oman, Spela Videcnik, Nejc Batistic, Martina Lipicer, Andrej Gregoric, Katja Aljaz

photo © Tomaz Gregorič

"With the Republic of Slovenia declaring its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 Slovenia became an honourable member of the world of late capitalism, and in 2004 a member of the European Union. It would take too long to explain in detail why Slovenia became a successful member of the empire of late capitalism, but what can be said of architecture is that several young architects such as Spela Videcnik and Rok Oman of Ofis arhitekti became familiar with the blurring of the distinctions between art, fashion, high and low culture, design and politics, individualisation, and consumption." words from the book 2G N.38 Ofis arhitekti

Lace apartments by OFIS ARCHITECTS
text by OFIS Architects

The location of the apartment block is in the centre of Nova Gorica (population 32.000) – Nova Gorica is situated in the west of Slovenia, adjacent the Slovene – Italian border. It lies 92 meters above sea level. The town has also very specific climate conditions – it is renowned as the hottest town in Slovenia in summer and also has very strong winds in winter.

The city with its climate, vegetation and way of living has Mediterranean character, where external shady space has high importance. Therefore the client demand was to design rich external spaces of different characters. Studying the different external spaces that existing houses in the area have we proposed types such as: balcony and terraces – both opened and covered with roof or pergola, loggias that are closed from the side and fully or partly glazed and fences of different characters – transparent with glass or metal fence, full and of different heights. Many balconies have integrated cupboards for storing external furniture. Using all this traditional elements apartments gain different characters that are more exposed or intimate and that offer opened or partly enclosed views. Using the elements building reinstates three-dimensional lace which embraces its volume.

photo © Tomaz Gregorič

Given urban conditions - The fixed urban plot of the building had to be orthogonal block 48 x 16m x 5 floors. Clients brief was also clear with apartment’s sizes and typologies that actually are simple and repeated. Over this simple structure the second skin of terraces provides each apartment different character and possibility to buyer to choose the one that responds to his lifestyle.

The facade color patterns are taken from typical color elements of the area (typical Gorica valley soil, wine and brick roof-tops) ...nevertheless the locals started to call it "pyjamas" (reminds on man night wear pattern).

Besides 5 floors two underground garages are build. In the ground floor offices and shops/services are located.
Air condition external elements are partly on the roof and partly behind the metal grid, which forms facade of the mezzanine above ground floor.

Sustainability issues:

The combination of facade elements – projecting roofs, pergolas, apartment dividing walls, terraces and balconies with loggias function as constant temperature buffer zone to the main living and sleeping areas and protect against sudden weather changes and strong winds. Additional aluminum shading panels are placed on the outer sides of the winter loggias and balconies.
The service and communication spaces are reduced to minimum thus the daylight is provided on the shafts. The monthly basic energetic and service costs are very low; so also economic for the inhabitants.