Social Housing Block

The modular design of the housing block

Project Details

• Project Name: Social Housing Block
• Client: Slovenian housing fund
• Location: Izola, Slovenia
• Project Type: Residential
• Principal Designer/s: Rok Oman, Spela Videcnik
• Design Team: Martina Lipicer, Nejc Batistic, Neza Oman, Florian Frey, Marisa Baptista
• Contractor: Makro 5
• Date of commencement of project: 2003
• Date of completion of project: 2006
• Site Area: 4.000 m²
• Built-up Area: 2,294 m²

Exterior view of one of the two blocks

The Building

The project is a competition - winning entry to design two housing blocks for the Slovenia Housing Fund- a government-run program providing low-cost apartments for young families. The proposal won largely for its excellent ratio between gross vs. saleable surface area as well as for its flexibility in design.

Exterior view of the building

Each building provides for thirty apartments of different sizes and structures, varying from studio flats to 3-bedroom units. The apartments are small, with minimum-sized rooms according to Slovenian standards. There are no structural elements inside the apartments which can hence be flexibly reorganized.

The interesting composition of elements and colour in the facade

The blocks are set out on a hill with a view of Izola Bay on one side and of the surrounding hills on the other. Since the blocks are subject to a Mediterranean climate, outdoor space and shade are critical features of design.

Slight variations within the modular framework coupled with a diverse color palette prevents the design from getting monotonous.

The design allows for a veranda for each apartment, thus providing an outdoor space that is intimate, shaded and naturally ventilated. A textile shade creates privacy within the balcony and apartment whilst, owing to its semi-transparency, allowing the residents to enjoy views of the bay.

View of the balconies with perforated side panels and textile shades.

Perforated side-panels allow summer breeze to ventilate the space. The strong colours create different atmospheres within the apartments. Boxes at the side of each balcony provide room for air-conditioning units. Perspective and visual lines are accentuated and utilized, connecting the interiors with their surround, thus making the small rooms seem more spacious.

Credits

• Text: Courtesy, the architect
• Photographs by Tomaz Gregoric courtesy of Ofis Architects
• Compiled and edited by Manish Mehta