A single-family house designed by G. Natkevičius ir partneriai studio has been built in the Kopų Žuvėdros district of Klaipeda. The building attracts attention with its original form and free approach to the shaping of the body. The architects abandoned conventional simple forms in favour of a composition inspired by the animal world, more specifically… an elephant. an elephant. The concept refers to the elephant’s image and characteristics such as strength, massiveness and gentleness. These are reflected in the architecture of the house. The most distinctive elements are the trumpet-like roofs over the two terraces, which are also the hallmark of the entire building.
The house has an area of 252 square metres and comprises two above-ground storeys and a basement. The main body has been shaped as a simple, compact cuboid, to which the dynamically curved elements of the terraces have been attached. Their form serves as a shelter for the leisure space and further emphasises the sculptural dimension of the entire project. The curved roofs descend towards the ground, creating a seamless transition between the body of the house and the surroundings. They also introduce a rhythmic play of light and shadow.
The living area is located on the ground floor. The living room, dining room and kitchen form a common space, open to the pine garden thanks to very large glazings. With a direct connection to the covered terrace, the interior receives a natural extension in the form of a semi-open leisure area. On the first floor, private rooms and ancillary rooms are distributed, while the basement contains a technical area and a storage zone.
The façade of the house is clad in shingle-like clinker in a muted, warm shade, which gives the whole building a very solid and elegant, but also cosy appearance. The uniform texture of the material also appears on the roof of the terrace, which only reinforces the impression of cohesion of the overall design. Clinker, as a durable and weather-resistant material, was combined with large areas of glass. The contrast between the massive body and the light, translucent elements gives a sense of balance between stability and openness.
The flat roof of the main part of the house fits in with the aesthetics of contemporary architecture and emphasises the horizontal layout of the building. The surroundings have been landscaped in a simple and natural way. The green lawn area and the wooden paving of the terraces dominate. One of the pine trees even grows out of it and ‘pierces’ the roof!
House in Klaipeda designed by G. Natkevičius ir partneriai can be considered a manifestation of a very creative approach to architecture. Here, an ingenious motif inspired by nature has been transformed into a well-thought-out form in which aesthetic qualities and functionality coexist.
Project: G. Natkevičius ir partneriai
Location: Klaipeda, Lithuania
Photography: Leonas Garbačauskas
Read also: Single-family house | Lithuania | Stone | Minimalism | whiteMAD on Instagram
