House in Bratislava

Award-winning combination of history and modernity

A house where revealed history combines with progressive modernity. This perfectly characterizes the Bratislava House at the Bell Tower, the winner of the Interior of the Year 2022 competition in the Reconstruction category. Thanks to meticulous effort, long-standing layers of modifications were removed, merging the unique character of the original building with the impressive design of contemporary architecture.

At the time the owners decided to make changes, the house had already been inhabited for several years. However, as the young family grew, they began to realize that the existing layout of the space did not suit them, and they decided to adapt the interior to their needs. The assignment was more of a discussion about the daily life of a large family and their future requirements. "From the beginning, we talked about open space and simple materiality, but essentially I had a fairly free hand based on the trust they placed in me," says architect Marián Gombarček from the architectural studio gmb. The owners had only a few main requirements. One of them was to maintain the original exterior appearance of the building, while the placement of the entrance remained unchanged. However, the interior of the house underwent extensive changes. The original electrical installation was revised and modified, underfloor heating was installed, and spatial changes also occurred.

Under the layer of the past

The uniqueness of the realization lay primarily in its unique concept. "The design concept is based on the contrast between the original exposed building and the composition of inserted elements, which enter the space in various forms, connect and intersect it differently, sometimes even ignoring and directly disrupting it. The space opens up in several directions, creating new interactions and communication channels," the architect analyzes and continues: "The original building and its reconstruction were stripped of the structural accumulations from various interventions. Brick walls and wooden beam ceilings were revealed, whose simple exposed materiality allows for the spatial composition of the newly inserted forms to stand out." Although it might seem that the connection of new forms and original elements was the goal from the outset, the opposite is true. The inspiration for this approach formed only during the uncovering of various layers of the past. The original motifs and patterns appealed to the current owners so much that they wished to preserve them, which allowed for the birth of a grand, spacious, and ingeniously designed dwelling with perfect respect for the history of the house.

An open space with a distinct center

The main goal of the reconstruction of the two-story house was to maximize the connection of space by removing unnecessary barriers and installing unusual modern elements in combination with the originals. "The entire living space is organized around the staircase and kitchen, where it opens up most to the gallery. The kitchen thus becomes a point that connects the individual spaces in both horizontal and vertical directions," describes Marián Gombarček. The ground floor is circular, and the sense of unity is created by the almost complete absence of doors and the color coordination of the interior furnishings. The entrance, kitchen, and living area share the same floor decor, which perfectly corresponds in shade with the subtle texture of the exposed bricks and complements the darker ochre tones of the original ceiling. Pure white walls lighten and aerate the environment. The color palette is intentionally neutral, allowing the charm of the original constructions and the new forms of the extension to stand out in contrast with the inserted contemporary elements. The focal point of the ground floor is a metal staircase in a bright red color, which, due to its stark color, stands out against the other furnishings and highlights the contrast between modern design and preserved original elements. The resulting impression from this visual accent is further enhanced by a metal truss in the same shade that intersects the open space of the gallery.

The power of reflection

The entrance to the house leads into the space of the arched extension. Here, opposite the doors, is a seating area, discreetly separated by a mirrored cabinet assembly. This serves standard storage function while cleverly closing off the front part of the ground floor into a narrow corridor leading to the bathroom and the open kitchen space. The mirrored assembly was chosen with a clear intention, as explained by the architect: "I consider the placement of the entrance on the south side to be the greatest shortcoming of the original reconstruction of the extension, which placed the daytime zone in the background on the less illuminated side of the house. Since the requirement was to maintain the entrance in its original position, after long debates for technical reasons, we addressed how to bring as much southern sunlight into the environment as possible. The result was a mirrored wall that very sensitively illuminates and divides the space." Thanks to its surface, the cabinets do not appear massive, and their minimalist character fits well into the basic concept of the open ground floor.

Subtle uniqueness

To the left of the main entrance is a small technical room and a separate toilet. This is the only exception in the intentionally connected environment of the ground floor, which has internal doors for privacy. Even these, however, maintain the set character of the interior. The surface of the doors is executed in the same wood decor as the surrounding surfaces, and due to the possibility of hidden linings, the passage is not burdened with unnecessary disruptive lines. Subtlety combined with functionality and quality was also evident in the choice of door fittings. The doors are fitted with MINIMAL handles from the Czech family manufactory M&T, with the brushed nickel finish selected from the eighteen options available for this model. "We chose the fittings based on their appearance, and the MINIMAL handle was selected for its clean, minimalist design," says Marián Gombarček. Original design and high quality are the priorities of M&T, the only Czech manufacturer of design door and window fittings and a leader in surface finishes. "The MINIMAL handle fully meets the requirements of minimalist interiors, especially due to its hidden rose that does not exceed their outline. The uniqueness of the handles also lies in their variability, both in terms of the diversity of surface finishes and in the completeness of the collection, which includes handles for all types of windows and doors in the same design," adds Roman Ulich, the chief designer of M&T.

History and present

The largest room on the ground floor is the living room with dining area. It is here that the traces of the present and the long-ago past most intertwine, embodied by the exposed perimeter walls, original windows, and rustic beam ceiling. The raw beauty of the bricks and old wood is enhanced by the absence of hanging decorations and the restrained color of the furniture in shades of white, gray, and brown. To the right of the entrance is a fireplace, ingeniously set into a simple white area that visually connects to a partition of the same color, helping to link the bright space of the gallery with the prominent components of the living room. The minimalist surface of the fireplace is complemented by a subtle white structure on both sides, whose lines without a back wall allow a view of the brick wall. An unusual element here is the lighting, discreetly embedded between the ceiling beams or the lines of the wall, but the design pearl in the form of a circular chandelier only underscores the idea of the connection between history and modernity, adding a well-deserved touch of uniqueness to the place.

With an inward view

Although the renovation primarily took place on the ground floor, minor changes also occurred on the first floor of the house. One of them was a localized adjustment of the layout. The first floor was originally divided into three spacious rooms and a bathroom. However, the changing needs of the large family made this division suboptimal. Therefore, the owners decided to build an additional room. "A new bedroom for the parents was created on the first floor from part of the original corridor, and the original rooms were gradually occupied by the children. After long debates, the parents decided on this step to intentionally provide their children with more privacy," explains Marián Gombarček. An interesting detail that must be mentioned is the internal window. It was created in the bedroom so that it faces and literally "looks" into the gallery space. This perfectly connects the small room with the illuminated center of the house, which aligns with the overall concept of the new interior. The original three bedrooms, which now serve as retreats for the children, and the shared bathroom on the first floor remained unchanged in layout.

The architect exceeded the family's original expectations, who are truly satisfied in their reconstructed home. The uniqueness of this building, which thoughtfully combines historical elements with modern ones, was also appreciated by the jury of the Interior of the Year 2022 competition, in which the House at the Bell Tower became the winner in the Reconstruction category.

Technical specifications:

Process of realization: project 2021, realization 2021–2022
Usable area: 109 m²
Type of heating: underfloor heating
Door handles: M&T, MINIMAL fittings

gmb. is a small architectural studio based in Bratislava. It is dedicated to architectural creation from interior design, residential architecture to solutions for commercial and civic spaces.
Photo: Mgr. Ing. arch. Marián Gombarček