New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Project category

Identify the award category for which this project is being submitted
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most

Email user
ursula.novak@a2o2.si

Basic information
Project title
House MM

Full Project Title
renovation of the house MM

Please provide a short, catchy description of your project to be used in communication towards the public.
House in the centre of Domžale was one of few old houses in the area. Anonymous heritage is important for the identity of the place. A financially viable renovation is sustainable and environmentally friendly. We kept the shell of the building. We cleared the interior and preserved the vital elements of the old house. New service volume carrying the bedroom is distanced from the old walls. Living area connects two storeys and opens onto the garden. During the renovation process the owners bonded

What was the geographical scope of your project?
Local

Where was your project implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Slovenia

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
{Empty}

Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?
It addresses urban-rural linkages

Does your project refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)

Has your project benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
No

Has your project won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Is your project fully completed
Yes

Please indicate a date (mm/yy)
2021-01-01

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): a2o2 arhitekti
  Type of organisation: For-profit company
  First name of representative: Žiga
  Last name of representative: Ravnikar
  Gender: Male
  Nationality: Slovenia
  Function: architect
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Rimska cesta 12
  Town: Ljubljana
  Postal code: 1000
  Country: Slovenia
  Direct Tel: +38641826880
  E-mail: ziga.ravnikar@a2o2.si
  Website: https://www.a2o2.si/
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.instagram.com/a2o2arhitekti/
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): a2o2arhitekti
In case my project is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my project in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia

Description of the project
Please provide a summary of your project.
The house from the beginning of the 20th century was one of few remaining characteristic
houses in the neighbourhood. Despite many new developments in the surroundings the
owners decided to renovate the house and adapt it to modern living. Preservation of the
anonymous built heritage is important as it preserves the complexity and identity of the place.
We hope the building could present an alternative and financially comparably viable
approach to house renovation that is sustainable in the long term and environmentally
friendly.
We wanted to preserve the outer shell of the building while spotlighting the new interventions.
We cleared the interior and preserved the elements that maintain the spirit of the old house.
The new interventions are separated from the old walls and stand out also with their
materiality.
Once the house was stripped of everything redundant we inserted a new service volume.
Above it is a new floor with the bedroom, and underneath the bedroom is a kitchen niche with
a dining room. The entire ground floor is paved with terrazzo. The living area with a fireplace
extends upwards a full two storeys and opens out onto the garden through a large window.
The owners renovated the existing windows with the help of a restoration specialist; they
helped with the interior panelling and polished the concrete floor to achieve the terrazzo look.
During the renovation process they really bonded with the house, and this shows in the result
– the house begins its life where the architecture ends.

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words.
renovation

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
anonymous heritage

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
sustainability

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
user involvement

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
symbioses

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The project stresses the importance of preservation and restoration of existing structures. The carbon footprint of a building can be reduced by making use of the existing rather than building anew. Despite of preserving the existing structure, renovation needed to meet the contemporary dwelling standards; this was done using only locally sourced materials. Important aspect of sustainability is also the trans generational sustainability of the structure. House is adaptable to different ages, sustainable and adaptable to different needs in life of the inhabitant, and respects the aging of the user. Sustainable approach also provides that when the existing house is renovated, new program brings new life and users into an existing, once forgotten space.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The renovated building is located in the town centre of Domžale. A sleeping suburban settlement, this town in the vicinity of Ljubljana used to be picturesque, filled with typical modest houses similar to house MM. Balanced settlement had a very unified city profile and a good scale, adapted to the pedestrian. Nowadays, a lot of market orientated ill-planned neighbourhoods are being built, that drastically changed the perception of the public space. After thorough observation and analyses of the existing structure, we tried to renovate the house appreciating the existing as much as possible. There is a clear distinction between old and new elements. New structure, inserted in the existing shell of the building, is distanced from the existing walls. The ambiance of the existing building was preserved by highlighting its hand made brick walls and restored existing pine double windows. Through active participation of the owners, who helped to restore the existing windows and treated the brick walls, manually cleaning every single piece, a very appreciative bond with the house formed. This now reflects in the pride they feel for their home, and good care they take of it. Although a new addition, made of wood, was built to enlarge the living space, the house still retains its homunculus scale and respects the scale of the buildings in the surroundings. With its subtle exterior and large garden with luscious trees and greenery, it ameliorates the common space of the town for the everyone that passes by.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The investors that recently retired, sold their former house, because it was too big, empty, expensive to maintain, and inaccessible. The house they lived in had no access to the garden and a lot of stairs. They wished for a simpler home with a large living area, a small bedroom in the upper floor and a garden that would be easily accessible from indoors. The resulting house is small in size, but large enough to fulfill their needs and wishes. It is important to stress not all renovations need to cost a lot. With active participation of the owners, who did a lot of the renovation work on their own, costs were cut and made the project more affordable, and possible. It could be said that this approach applies to many cases of a smaller 19th century house in Slovenia, that formed the core of small town settlements, and are disappearing rapidly. This renovation project could also be used as a case study for similar edifices. An alternative approach presents a financially viable model for similar renovation projects.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project
It could be said that the educational potential of the project is in the way it makes people understand the value of the old house, that was defunct. This helps them understand that even if a house is in a bad condition it needn't be torn down and replaced. Knowing its state prior to renovation and seeing it restored, awoke an interest of the general public and local residents who pass by the house on a daily basis. Through examples people might grow fond of renovation and might even feel encouraged to renovate rather than build a completely new home.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the project. Please highlight what the added value of their engagement was.
This house was not recognised as cultural heritage, so only the local officials were asked to give the building permit for its renovation. When the project was finished, the local community suddenly became very proud, and affiliated with the message of the renovation. Because the house is one of the very few of its type left, it reminds the people of what their town used to look like. Since completion, there has been a lot of interest in the project. It was published several times in different local and national papers. It was featured on an architectural show Tv Ambienti on Slovene national tv. It was awarded Zlati svinčnik award for excellent execution of the project by the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia. By internet voting, house MM won the OHS (open houses Slovenia) award 2022 for the best house of the festival, chosen by the public. The renovation of house MM got the International 2022 Piranesi honourable mention. It was also nominated for the Plečnik medal, the highest Slovene architectural accolade, presented by the society of architects of Ljubljana. The added value of many different presentations enabled the general public to learn about the important processes of sustainable renovation, potential of existing structures, low carbon footprint of reuse, and raised awareness about the importance of anonymous built heritage.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your project. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was.
Throughout the renovation, we aimed to include local materials and local craftsmen. We worked closely with a carpenter that did the woodwork for the new extension and roof. A wood restoration expert led the restoration works, and helped the investors restore the double wooden windows and existing doors. We decided to guide the process in that way because we feel it is of vital importance to promote, support and preserve the traditional crafts that are disappearing rapidly. Through detailed and committed expert work of the craftsmen, this project achieved a level of complex simplicity.

Please give information on the results, outcomes and impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for. This includes also benefits from the project for direct and indirect beneficiaries
The town of Domžale recently underwent changes resulting in heavy degradation of common spaces. This settlement changed from a picturesque town into a transit satellite sleeping facility of Ljubljana. Its inhabitants are distanced from their immediate surroundings and degraded open public space. The project implies that positive change in your immediate vicinity strongly affects the perception of public space. As space is a limited good, one has to use it sparingly. A small apt intervention instantly improves the living condition for the people from the neighbourhood. With renovation of existing tissue, identity and integrity of the settlement is maintained and dignified. This house has a restrained respectful exterior, and respects local traditional syntax of elements and materials. Its large green surroundings provide the investors with generous intermediate zone between their private home and the neighbourhood. Orchard and garden provide the necessary crops for their personal use, helping to lower their carbon footprint. Accessibility of the layout of the house enables the residents with better living conditions and prolongs their mobility in old age. Promotion of the project educates people about the importance of rebuilding, renovation and reuse of the existing structures, and their adaptation for a new, contemporary use.

Please provide documents showing the results, outcomes and impacts of your project
Web link
Web link
Please highlight the innovative character of the project, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the project
Majority of the project is designed with recyclable natural materials, minimising the carbon footprint of the intervention. Use of concrete was minimised to necessary structural interventions. Wooden addition of the building was executed as light prefabricated wooden structure. Specialty of the project is the physical involvement of the owners in the process of the renovation. The resulting project is a shelter that frames their life, and inhabits the architectural shell after the completion of the works.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your project.
Before the conceptual design, we analysed the existing tissue and evaluated it as a structure and in its relation to the surroundings. The proposed and executed concept is based on emphasising the existing qualities of the house. Through reuse, we adapted the existing house for a new life in contemporary time. A clear distinction between the existing layers, carefully renovated by the owners, and new elements, carefully executed by the local craftsmen, creates a balanced space of symbiosis of old an new, where time layers function in unison.

Please describe which elements of your project could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and context. This may involve for example aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings etc.
Traditional villages and locally specific typologies of dwellings in Slovenia are endangered. They are being replaced by commercial, mass-built, generic housing project, that do not establish a relation to either the scale of the user or the surroundings. Present project is a case study of how its method of work could be applied to many similar existing old houses that are slowly decaying or wait to be torn down. The appreciation of renovation rather than only building anew is a vital responsibility of our generation. Inclusive process of planning preserves traditional craftsmanship and helps to educate the community about the importance of renewal.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the project addresses by providing local solutions
Build less, renovate more. There should be a wider awareness of the importance of space as a common good for local communities and the importance for contribution to the culture of built space. Learning from example empowers the general public via transfer of knowledge through different media. With the global challenges we are facing today, we must take in the account that the space we have is limited and we should learn to use less of it. This house proves it is possible to have a good quality of living on a smaller footprint. With planting trees in crucial spots, one spends less energy sources because of overheating and helps minimising hotspots in the area.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images (or other types of visual representations, if images are not possible) to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below
By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the project and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary.
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their projects, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted project, is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes