Reconstruction of a duplex apartment in Bratislava

Reconstruction of the mezzanine, which is part of a fifteen-year-old development in Bratislava's Dúbravka, represented a significant challenge - even more so as the investor, representing a five-member family, demanded a radical reconstruction. Therefore, attention and the greatest care were devoted to the shared spaces, their maximum quality improvement, and even expansion.

The shared space was newly enhanced with a built-in balcony/gallery including a large terrace covering almost two-thirds of the apartment, originally awkwardly accessible only from two rooms on the upper floor. This platform now also serves as a library and a reading relaxation area. Its shape loosely follows the silhouette of the slanted ceiling of the last apartment in the building, where one can not only read but also keep parental control over the happenings throughout the entire apartment simultaneously. The translucent shades in the upper floor are not meant to block out light, but rather to soften and diffuse the incoming light so that it feels pleasant inside, even when the exterior visually tires one.

The central theme of the interior is the soft painting with light and shadow, supported by the play with visual rhythm - both composed of the materials and colors used. The foundation consists of subtly toned surfaces in shades of white, gray, and beige, such as the natural linoleum floor or walls with an earthen expression. Carefully chosen counterpoints to the established color calm are the anthracite circle of the slate dining table and two vividly blue orthogonal elements (both works by the artist Patrícia Koyšová) being the artistically approached TV table and the painting on the opposite wall. The effect of alternating pressed color tones is mirrored in the delicate construction of storage spaces custom-made by carpentry. The maximally utilized space of the entrance hallway, the minimalist wardrobe, and the doors discreetly recessed into the living room wall allow the geometry of the apartment accessories to stand out.

Vertical spruce slats serve here in various situations as decor, railing, or cladding, enhancing the height of the mezzanine and the verticality of the apartment composition, where they are one of the most striking aesthetic interventions by the architects. The elegant block of the kitchen unit is, like other main storage spaces, custom-designed with handleless drawers and doors opened by magnets. The goal was to achieve a clean impression of a monochromatic surface geometrically divided by joint lines. Black steel paired slats, black lamps and shades, as well as chairs or the bookshelf are then further geometric, almost linear entries, corresponding with the clear concept of subtle lines and layouts.