Minimalist architecture with a striking terracotta facade
House Barje by architecture firm Počivašek Petranovič is a minimalist yet expressive residential project designed for a young couple, including an integrated yoga studio. Located in the marshlands of Ljubljana Barje—a suburb defined by flat meadows, scattered buildings, and a strong horizontal character—the house blends modern living with deep connection to nature.
The architectural concept emphasizes simplicity, light, and materiality, turning the building into a dynamic structure that changes with its environment. A central design feature is the terracotta facade made of black-blue glazed tiles from Agrob Buchtal. This facade cladding reflects natural light in varying ways throughout the day, linking the house visually and atmospherically to its surroundings.
Site-Specific Architecture with Smart Facade Design
The house sits at the intersection of urban life and natural expanse. The long, narrow plot dictated a single-storey layout, reducing the building’s mass and adapting to the soft, marshy ground. Wooden piles support a reinforced concrete base, forming a stable foundation.
The layout divides the site into a publicly accessible northern area and a private garden to the south. Together with an existing structure, this setup forms a sheltered and intimate outdoor zone. The linear floor plan features slightly offset rooms to create rhythm and maximize space. Intermediate zones like small atriums and shaded niches under roof overhangs serve as outdoor living extensions.
A sloped roof with deep eaves underlines the building’s horizontal emphasis and contributes to its atmospheric light play, enhancing both protection and aesthetics.
Function Meets Serenity: A Thoughtful Room Layout
Upon entering, residents find a serene yoga space—designed for relaxation and spiritual focus. The main living area includes a bedroom, home office, living room, and an open-plan kitchen with adjacent dining space. A tapered corridor stretches the visual depth, adding a sense of spaciousness.
Every square meter is carefully utilized, and smooth transitions between zones encourage both privacy and shared living. The architectural flow reinforces a feeling of calm and clarity—essential to the minimalist design ethos.
Modern Materials and Terracotta Facade Panels with Character
Key to the identity of House Barje is the expressive facade design. Inspired by the brick structures typical of the region, traditional forms are reimagined through slim, glazed terracotta facade panels in deep, reflective tones. These elements continuously shift in appearance depending on the time of day and season—an ever-changing surface echoing the natural surroundings.
A stainless steel gutter system and rainwater cistern further highlight the building’s technical finesse, contrasting subtly with the dark terracotta tiles.
Construction materials follow the minimalist aesthetic: hollow concrete blocks for the exterior walls, partially exposed inside and painted white; plywood partitions serving as integrated furniture; and a lightweight timber roof covered with corrugated aluminium sheets—combining low weight with durability.
Minimalist Interior and Nature Integration
Inside, simplicity rules. Polished concrete floors and clean lines define the interior, while built-in plywood elements blend function with design. Floor-to-ceiling windows open the interior to the garden, allowing views of typical marshland vegetation—neatly kept lawns and solitary trees.
This visual and physical openness strengthens the home’s integration with its environment, creating a peaceful retreat that is in constant dialogue with nature.
