ALPINE SKI APARTMENTS

Located in the alpine town Kranjska Gora on the north-west of Slovenia, the brief required a public ground floor and small apartments on the upper floor that could be converted into bigger units. Concept Design: Cube Cut-outs The concept design was initially dictated by the strict local building regulations which limited the height and footprint of the project. The first step was the maximum volume on the site: a cube on the allowed urban footprint. The final layout derives from cutting the cube in the vertical and horizontal planes. A horizontal cut took a pitched roof and created a flat top to hide service ventilation pipes and chimneys. Vertical cuts angled the corners and inserted wooden balconies giving the building a softer, less substantial volume appearance. Program Organization A pharmacy is located on the ground floor with larger glazed elements and a recessed entrance creating a more open and inviting level for public space. First and second floor contain 6 studio apartments of different sizes, each with its own balcony and large glazed views towards the surrounding mountains. The basement level is a communal space with a shared area, sauna and leisure room. Materials The material selection responds to the local tradition, using to emulate those of the existing building environment. Cement tile cladding is the principal material which visually gives the impression of a tiled roof, and a continuous skin on both the roof and walls emphasizes the form of the building further. Larch is used for the balconies on the corners of the building in order to indicate the location where the buildings form has been cut to reveal external spaces for the apartments. The ground floor is made from natural stone from the region, indicating the entrance and difference between private and public areas.