Brick House Záhorské Sady | ARCHITEKTI mikulaj & mikulajova

At the beginning there was a large plot on the outskirts of Bratislava, overlooking the forest. And
a large, growing family with a desire to live in a brick house. The orientation of the plot was
difficult, with new houses quickly growing up around. So the idea of three massive houses,
interconnected by light, transparent spaces, arose. The sun and daylight will reach all the
rooms, and the family will have a sense of privacy, even if the house stands in a built-up area.

Houses made of brick have a long tradition in our country. Here we combine the burnt brick with
contrasting, smooth surfaces, letting its unique texture stand out. Bricks on the façade, bricks on the pavement of terraces, bricks reflected in the mirror, bricks in the interior of the house. Bricks in the arch or as a semi-transparent curtain in building openings. This highly sustainable
material allows us to experiment and use it in many ways.

Three massive, brick-built houses take over various programs. In the largest we place a private
zone - bedrooms and children's rooms. The spacious staircase has plenty of daylight. The
medium-sized house consists of a living room with a double-sided fireplace and a separated
library. The living room is elevated to let in the sun from the south-west through strip glazing
under the ceiling. The smallest house creates a place for cars and garden service.

Between the brick houses there are glazed spaces, always accessible from both sides. These
are light, open structures with concrete beamed ceilings that smoothly transition into the
outside. The smaller one forms the entrance hall and the larger one the main living space for a
family of six - a kitchen with a dining room and a fireplace. The unusual kitchen layout with two
islands enables parents to have a better view of both sides of the garden while cooking - to the
pool and to the southwest terrace.

The house plans designed in a smart way offer flexible living concepts for the future. The house
can be used by one large family as it is now, but it can also be divided into several apartment
units if the life conditions change in the future. Every unit can have its own part of the garden or
a terrace. The medium-sized house can be completety separated and used as a studio / atelier /
office.

The external walls consist of brick, a thermal insulation layer of mineral wool and a ventilated air
gap. The façade is made of Belgian Marziale face brick which appears in the interior as well.
The house uses concrete core cooling system, heat pump and air recovery. Combined with the
use of a well for garden needs and green roofs, we create an ecological architecture, that is
sustainable and environmentally friendly.