CHIMNEY HOUSE || This Singular Home in Slovenia is Designed for A Tranquil Countryside Lifestyle
The Chimney House is situated at the edge of the village between an adjacent wooden barn and a 16th-century church just a stone’s throw away.
Designed for a couple living in the countryside, the simple exterior conceals the thoughtful design details within. The Chimney House transforms one architectural element into the central theme of the design and also references regionalist architectural elements, such as the gabled roof. While the exterior shows a clear relation to the wooden barn, the distinctive volumetric identity draws more parallels to the 16th-century church.
The ridge of the roof is pushed apart to incorporate a continuous skylight that runs the length of the residence, drawing in natural light throughout the day to most living spaces. Large window niches invite light from the sides of the home to brighten stairways and corridors.
Inside, the kitchen has a multifunctional wood stove and a central communal dining area, which anchors the social space for the couple living in the countryside. The open design allows the hosts to prepare a meal while socializing with guests. The stove’s centrally positioned chimney determines the concept of the house, setting a centrally aligned layout for all other elements of the design.
In contrast to traditional barns where the source of light and fresh air enters through one side, the Chimney House welcomes in the outside with sliding doors and generous skylights.
Inhabitable window niches carefully curate incoming light.
At first glance, the exterior of the home may resemble more of a traditional barn, but many innovative design elements modernize the residence. For example, the ridge of the roof is pushed apart to create a continuous skylight running throughout the home, providing light for most of the spaces. Where a traditional barn would utilize the walls for the simple function of keeping out the weather elements, the Chimney House’s building envelope is developed as a thick wall to allow for the integration of multiple storage spaces, a secondary kitchen, and small window niches where one could enjoy their breakfast or nestle with their favourite read and a cup of tea. The inward-slanting angles of the window niches carefully curate incoming light and expand the views to the exterior.
The Chimney House presents a tranquil living environment for a couple looking to escape the busy city in exchange for a serene countryside lifestyle without losing their connection to modernity.
The building envelope is developed with thick walls to allow for integrated storage spaces, maintaining a clean aesthetic within the home while also offering an abundance of storage space.
The Chimney House redefines countryside cottage living with its traditional exterior and modern, minimalist interior.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project size: 205 m2
Completion date: 2016
Building levels: 2
Project Team: dekleva gregoric architects — Aljoša Dekleva, Tina Gregorič, Vid Zabel, Primož Boršič