But these references aren’t as essential, as the most interesting question that poses itself is how a single archetypal architectural element became the central theme of the house and how this influenced the spatial concept, perception and the volumetric articulation of the object. Architecture is often ‘separated’ into architectural and technical components, the technical aspect of which is usually understood as a banal necessity, or even an obstacle in expressing a ‘clean’ architectural idea. In this case the ‘technical’ aspect becomes the challenge and one of the most important bases of the project.

Historically, the chimney is one of the first technological elements which appeared in architecture, along with the fireplace – the source of warmth, light and food preparation became the centre of the home. The chimney with its ‘fireplace’ gives meaning, in an archaic way, to the kitchen and dining area - the central dwelling space. The volume of the house is, in a way, of an archetypal shape, transformed by the outline of the chimney. The envelope is developed as a thick wall. By integrating multiple storage, rear part of the kitchen, distinctive view expanding and sometimes inhabitable windows the envelope allows the users to enjoy centrally the church like space to perform an array of activities.

Credits: - dekleva gregoric architects - Vid Zabel - dekleva gregoric architects - Aljosa Dekleva - dekleva gregoric architects - Tina Gregoric - dekleva gregoric architects - Primoz Borsic - Konzola (Structural Engineer) - Luka Pavlovcic