House G / ARP Studio

Architects: ARP studio
Area: 200 m²
Year: 2015
Photographs: Ana Skobe
Lead Architects: Ernest Milčinović
Design Team: ARP Studio
City: Škoflje
Country: Slovenia

House G residential project designed by ARP studio in Škofije, Slovenia, integrates a single-story home within the Istrian landscape by organizing interior functions around a central atrium. Positioned on the edge of a terrace in a border town surrounded by olive groves, the square-shaped house balances simplicity and spatial complexity. Its exterior, marked by a restrained front facade and a combination of flat and gabled roofs, conceals a nuanced interior sequence. The atrium serves as the spatial and symbolic core, mediating between public and private zones. Living and sleeping areas are arranged on opposite sides, with the kitchen, dining, and living spaces benefiting from natural light and views through carefully positioned windows. Reduced external openings support privacy and emphasize inward-facing connections. The largest window frames views from the atrium toward the distant sea, while a west-facing terrace leads directly into the olive grove, concluding a carefully choreographed spatial journey from entrance to landscape.

Positioned in the green hinterland of the Slovenian coast, within the olive-dotted Istrian landscape, a family of four has established a new residence in the border town of Škofije. The single-story house is located on the edge of a natural terrace. Its layout follows a simple square plan, with one half topped by a flat roof and the other half by a traditional gabled roof with a cornice. The home’s placement and material choices are deliberately understated, allowing it to blend into its surroundings. Its solid front facade contributes to an appearance of restraint, which is intentional and marks the beginning of a carefully orchestrated spatial experience that unfolds upon entry.

The house in Škofije is organized around a central void, which forms the core of the design. This internal atrium enables a gradation of spaces and circulation throughout the home. Upon entering, visitors arrive in an open area that acts as a transitional zone between the external environment and the private interior of the family residence. Within the atrium, one is already inside the house, yet still positioned in an intermediate space that offers an appropriate setting for welcoming guests and allows the family to gradually retreat into more private areas.

The floor plan is organized functionally into distinct living and sleeping zones. The sleeping area is located in the southern part of the house and is accessed through the entrance hall. A corridor linking the bedrooms concludes with a window that opens onto the atrium. The living areas are arranged in two interconnected sections. The kitchen occupies the northern wing and is connected to both the laundry and service areas. It receives natural light from two directions and has direct access to the atrium. Adjacent to the kitchen, on the western side of the house, are the dining room and living room. The living room features a full-height ceiling that reaches the roofline and includes windows on two sides, allowing for cross-illumination and clear views of both the atrium and the surrounding olive grove.

The atrium serves as the central point around which the interior spaces are organized and naturally lit. Its presence reduces the need for multiple openings in the external facades, significantly influencing the architectural expression of the house. This inward orientation allows for greater control over sightlines and contributes to a heightened sense of privacy and intimacy. The windows facing the atrium are positioned according to the internal layout, establishing visual connections between the living and sleeping areas and the central courtyard. The largest window, located beside the living room, is mirrored on the exterior facade, creating a framed view from the atrium toward the open landscape and the distant sea. A spacious terrace runs along the western facade and is accessible directly from the living area. The spatial sequence concludes by descending into the olive grove, completing a journey that begins at the solid entrance facade, moves through the atrium and the core living areas, extends to the terrace, and finally opens into the surrounding landscape, where only the terrace above remains in view.