Arch Tracker

Project: House N
Author: 3LHD Architects
Project Team: Saša Begovic, Marko Dabrovic, Tatjana Grozdanic Begovic, Silvije
Novak, Paula Kukuljica, Silvije Novak
Project Team Collaborators: Romana Llic, Lucija Stanicic
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Project: 2005 – 2006
Construction: 2006 -2008
Site Area: 746 m2
Footprint: 175 m2
Photo Credits: Damir Fabijanic

House N is situated in a quieter secondary neighborhood on Pantovcak street in Zagreb, perched in the western hills and boasting a delightfull panoramic view of the forest in the city.

A leatively narrow steeply sloping and elongated plot was the key element that defined the position and layout of the house. Close proximity to neighboring buildings on the eastern and southern borders of the plot influenced the house’s relatively compact desigh with a reduced number of openings in these two facades. Directions of movement in the interior were additionally accentuated within the external volume of the house and represent its main design element. The entire house, its facades and the roof are covered with the same material, dark brown HPL panels, which in contrast to large openings, makes it volume more compact.

The ground floor consists of a living area, which extends to the outer environment through wooden terraces, some of which are roofed over, while others are open to the sky, winding up in a completely natural pebbled areas amid grass. Unlike the living room and the dining area, contact between the kitchen and the exterior is not as direct. Nevertheless, the placement of the kitchen in an otherwise unfavorable position in relation to neighboring homes and the surrounding terrain was auspiciously conterbalanced by the introduction of a broad corner window set level tiwh the garden lawn. Hence the work sufrace, placed alongside the window, appears to strech out toward an open expanse of the garden.

The unfortunate position of an access road running alongside the entire length of the plot makes opening from the living room area to the most desirable southern vantage impossible. Consequently the southern area is modestly covered in a triangular glass shell that rises towards the southwestern corner and connects to the expansive glass surfaces of the western part of the house which are wholly open, thus connecting the living room with the garden.

The main accent in the interior is a wide two-floored hall that signifies the main connector of the ground and first floors.

The first floor consists of intimate areas; a work area, parent and children’s zones, from which one may take in a most breathtaking view through a corner window. Special attention was given to the lighting of the rooms. Toilet and wardrobe areas are lighted with roof lights in order to provide them with as much natural and superior quality illumination as possible. The fitness room is situated in the basement and gets its only source of light through round glass ceiling lights placed along the southern glass surface of the living area floor. This position was also assigned for the placement of larger house plants in order to create an additional visual barrier towards the street.

The boiler room, wellness area and wine cellar are also in the basement. All lights are incorporated in a lowered ceiling that hides heating and air-conditioning systems, which are vented from fan coils in wardrobes and floors throughout the house. Walking areas and access paths to the house were covered with granite cubes. Simplicity and compactness of volume, a limited choice of materials and resultant colors in the end make the house look like a piece of fine dark chocolate placed atop a green meadow.

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