On Replacement Housing Solutions for Flood Recovery in 2023 – Podcast Odprto #35 and #36

In the podcast Odprto, we closely examined the Catalog of Standardized Housing Solutions, which emerged from this year’s competition organized by the Ministry for a Solidary Future in collaboration with the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning. The Replacement Housing Typologies Competition was a response to the catastrophic floods of 2023, which impacted 183 municipalities, with 79 severely affected, and caused damage to more than 13,000 buildings. For many Slovenians who lost their homes due to this natural disaster, it was crucial to find quick yet sustainable solutions to replace damaged homes. The competition received 21 proposals featuring 58 different solutions for replacement housing typologies, offering modern architectural responses to the complex challenges of residential construction.

Spatial Visualization of Potential Designs for Savinja, Koroška, and Škofja Loka Houses; Studio Razvoj

Adaptability to Regions and Materials; Studio Razvoj

The task set for the architects was ambitious. The proposed solutions are designed to be adaptable and financially accessible, featuring universal modular systems that allow for customization to regional characteristics. The catalog includes designs for single-family and two-family houses, thoughtfully crafted for various terrain types—from flat to moderately sloped and even steep—and suited for prefabricated or traditional construction using local building technologies.

The proposed solution encompasses a remarkable diversity of needs for affected families and various other social communities who tragically lost their homes. In addition to the initial flexibility—which must accommodate different sizes, layouts, and usage scenarios—easy future adaptation to different life stages is also essential. Spatial visualization: Dekleva Gregorič Architects.

The concept of a growing building allows for the addition of one or more gable-roofed modules to the basic or original volume, which could include a garage, pergola, or workshop. Schematic diagrams: Dekleva Gregorič Architects.

One of the key goals of the competition was the modularity of designs, enabling quick adaptation of structures to the specific conditions of individual regions, such as the Škofja Loka, Savinja, and Koroška regions, where the need for such adaptable housing solutions is greatest. This modular approach allows these buildings to be easily tailored to local conditions, whether for flat or hilly terrain, thus providing broader applicability across diverse environments.

Spatial Visualization of House Typology in Dense Construction, Arhimetrics Architects

Conceptual Schematic Diagrams: Arhimetrics Architects

In the next two episodes of the podcast Odprto, we discussed how architects tackled this challenging task, the solutions they developed, and how the catalog of standardized solutions will influence the future of residential construction in Slovenia. We spoke with Gašper Skalar, an architect, representative of the investor, and a member of the competition jury, who currently serves as the secretary in the cabinet of Minister Maljevac. We also invited Marko and Rok Primažič (Studio Razvoj), Aljoša Dekleva (Dekleva Gregorič Architects), and Dario Vasiljević (Arhimetrics Architects), some of the award winners from the competition, who shared their views on the future of modular housing construction in Slovenia and revealed how they combined innovation, functionality, and affordability in their project designs.

Join us in exploring how these new, standardized housing solutions will help create more resilient and adaptable buildings, ensuring a more sustainable living environment in the future.

First Part of the Conversation with Gašper Skalar, Rok, and Marko Primažič:

Second Part of the Conversation with Aljoša Dekleva and Dare Vasiljević:

This episode of the podcast Odprto was prepared by Lenka Kavčič and Eva Eržen.

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The Odprto podcast in 2024 is co-financed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning.