The house in Dravlje is a modern, prestigious urban villa. The project presented a significant challenge. In the middle of a residential neighbourhood, we designed a home which offers the highest level of privacy and comfort in a small area.

An old house from the 1950s used to stand on the property, which is approximately 550 m2. The house was in a very poor condition, and spatially did not fit the planned design. We decided to demolish it and build a new, wooden, and energy-efficient building. Due to the extensive list of requirements and a small building lot, special attention was paid to the rational placement of the house on the lot. A particular challenge for us was the owners' strong desire for complete privacy in their garden, and above all, inside the house.

FLOOR PLAN

The rooms of the house extend over four floors - a basement, ground floor, first and second floor. Floors above the ground shift inward toward the top. Also, high fences prevent unwanted views from the surrounding roads and streets into the interior of the building. The living spaces are nevertheless very bright thanks to the large glass surfaces that open to all sides, giving the rooms a sense of lightness and connection to the garden which is around the whole house.

In the basement, there are mechanical rooms and rooms for relaxation and exercising. The ground floor represents the central living space of the house, which is dominated by the kitchen and living room. The dining area flows through spacious window area onto a partly covered terrace and a green atrium in the background. A unique feature of the living area is its glass wall with a sliding door from the excellent Swiss manufacturer Skyframe. The glass door opens effortlessly and has thin frames which give the wall an additional sense of lightness and openness.

The first floor is reserved for children's bedrooms and study rooms with associated bathrooms, and a wide balcony which runs around the whole perimeter of the house. A master bedroom completely dominates the second floor with a big walk-in closet and a private bathroom. A distinctive feature of the second floor is a large private, grass terrace with high outer walls, to which the bedroom and bathroom open with large glass surfaces. Its high exterior walls prevent views from the surroundings which guarantee complete privacy.

The facade is designed as a combination of dark fibre-cement panels and a contrasting white plaster facade. The water-to-water heat pump is responsible for heating the building and providing hot water. A central ventilation system with heat recovery was installed. The house is classified as passive in terms of energy efficiency.

INTERIOR

Particular attention was paid to interior furnishing, which is mostly completely custom-made. Calm and harmonious colour tones were used for it, as well as materials and shapes which suit the character, needs, and lifestyle of both owners.