Villa Borik corresponds in its volumes to the surroundings in which it is immersed, concealing a third of its distribution in an underground level. The house consists of three floors, each with a different spatial organization. The western "utility" facade that forms a filter between the street and the interior and a triangular half-bay roof that marks the entrance to the house on the north side complete the salient features of this architecture
Harmonious integration with surroundings
In Žilina, Slovakia, the villa's surroundings are relatively homogeneous with detached houses that occur interspersed more or less regularly with their gardens. Villa Borik, designed by PLURAL, respects this typical intermittent development and, at the same time, tries to correspond in volume with the surrounding buildings by concealing about one-third of its space in an underground floor
Spatial organization and connectivity
Two above-ground and one underground floors, with each level representing a formally different spatial organization, are connected by a spiral staircase that is located outside the central part of the square-shaped floor plan; this position of the staircase allows free management of the layout of each floor. The ground floor, dedicated to convivial activities, is designed as an open space: a continuous space in which furniture elements are freely distributed. Illuminated from east and west, this level takes full advantage of natural light, capturing atmospheres that change throughout the day. The westward "utility" facade here forms a privacy filter with the street, in the form of an enclosed garden and storage spaces
Sleeping quarters design
The second floor, dedicated to the sleeping area, is strictly divided: rooms in the corners of the floor plan, separated by bathrooms; these are each accessible from two rooms. The central distribution area, onto which the entrances to the rooms open, is lit by a skylight. The western "utility" façade, on this floor, connects the west-facing rooms, provides them with adequate privacy from the street and, in its southern part, also allows contact with the morning light
Structural integrity
Finally, the basement is lit through the patio that is below ground level on the south side of the house and includes a multi-purpose studio space, a sauna, and the technical room. It has independent access from the outside directly from the garden.
The load-bearing system of the building consists of a monolithic concrete structure system. The two opposite perimeter walls to the south and north support the second floor, ceilings and partitions, forming a continuous spatial grid. The reinforcement of the structure is provided by the vertical cylinder of the staircase
