Family house in Portorož – Monolith, caught in the southern sun
Updated: Sep 3
Architecture of horizon – The building is designed as a modern residential monolith that reinterprets the Mediterranean villa with radical geometry and the white color of the volumes. The central architectural idea is to "frame the horizon" through a series of horizontal glazings oriented towards the southern, sea side.
TYPE OF PROJECT: Architectural Building / Residential Property
LOCATION: Portorož, Slovenia
KEY ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES:
_Monolithic Mediterranean reinterpretation.
_Framing the sea horizon.
_Cantilever as sun protection.
The dominant console of the upper floor serves as an expressive sculptural
element and a functional passive sunshade, which prevents
the interior from overheating during the summer peaks. Massive white walls
provide privacy and protection from the bora wind on the north side,
while the southern facade is completely dematerialized through large
glass surfaces.
The use of exposed concrete and high-quality composite materials in white emphasizes the plasticity of the building in the strong coastal light. The ground floor is finished with textured wood (teak), which visually softens the transition between the interior and the terrace with the pool.
The architecture of the building effectively utilizes the southern exposure and, with the help of strategic shading and the thermal mass of concrete, creates an energy-efficient living environment with high aesthetic value.
With its white geometry and strategic overhangs, it tames the strong southern sun and turns it into an element of comfort. It is a modern interpretation of the coastal villa, which respects the tradition of light, but interprets it through a radically contemporary form.
Location: Portorož
Year: 2009
Material: Concrete, bricks
Architect: Nande Korpnik, Matjaž Vrhkar
