This single-family home in Palanga, Lithuania is an excellent example of the use of clinker brick slips. The narrow plot is located near a pine forest, about a kilometer from the sea. Located on a slope, the house is beautifully embedded in nature. It borders on a road at the foot of the slope and the forest. All living spaces are raised above street level and face the forest, while the garage and other technical rooms are positioned on the ground floor. The architecture follows the intricate landscape and there is enough space for outdoor activities. This division of space also particularly emphasizes the psychological perception of private and public.
Clinker brick slips create a maintenance-free facade
The architects wanted to avoid the impression of a bulky, floating object that a single-story living area dictates. Therefore, the family home was divided into three separate living areas, corresponding to three functional zones: children's rooms with their own bathroom and laundry room are firmly on the ground, while the parents' zone - a master bedroom with en-suite facilities - is raised from the slope by a plinth. The central volume houses a staircase that connects main living areas on the first floor with a garage, entrance hall and technical rooms on the ground floor.
This arrangement of building volumes also allowed for sensitive adjustments to the orientation of all buildings. The children's room faces south to maximize light and warmth. The volume of the parents is towards the north for a cooler indoor climate. All rooms open onto the forest and are protected from views from the street.
The rear facade looks like a funnel
The three building volumes are connected by a central transition axis. As you move along it, you can feel the slight changes in the rooms. Since customers are passionate art lovers and collectors, there are places in the house where their art objects can be harmoniously integrated without disrupting the free flow of the rooms or competing with the surrounding nature.
The house looks like fingers of a hand reaching into the sand. The rear facade acts like a funnel - capturing the light, the wind, nature. The project strives for a sophisticated appearance. The clinker brick slips are made by hand in Belgium and are stacked and glued to the facade in such a way that there are no gaps. The curved base gives the house a touch of playfulness.
Architects:UAB Architektu office
Place: Palanga, Lithuania
Area: 253 square meters
Project year: 2013
Photos: Leonas Garbačauskas
