KAPKA Apartment Building

Project idea

The studio is focused on a holistic approach to the design of buildings adapted to climate change, with special consideration of their impact on human health and the impact on the environment. The tool is an optimized design that takes into account aesthetic, social, health, economic and technical factors aimed at minimizing energy intensity, carbon neutrality and water management in the landscape.

The plot of land with an area of 1329 m2 is located in Malesice, Prague. The assignment of tasks includes collaboration on an analysis of the assigned area in a team and a separate design of a detached apartment building with apartments of different standards with an expected building height of 3 floors. The object is to complement the existing development in terms of urban planning and architecture.

The effort is to find ways to return the artificially built environment to the circular cycles of the planet's ecosystem, of which architecture is supposed to be a part.

Project description

The urbanistic approach to the task is achieved through a connecting node between 3 worlds - apartment buildings up the north, family houses in the east and Malesicky park in the south. As a transition symbol a contrasting organic shape is used which enlives and blends into its surroundings.

As for the architectural aspect, the idea stands for two organic masses on a common foundation. An element in nature as a shape - acorns of maple. The balconies create overlaping terraces according to the passive standarts. A community garden on the roof with its own small kitchen.

Technical information

Structural wall system from glued wood panels, lime-cement blocks for interior spaces, reinforced conrete as a ceiling and underground floor. An ecological EcoCocon enclosure and clay interior walls. Double-skinned facade with wooden battens.

Technologically an almost self-sufficient house. Usage of renewable resources - photovoltaic panels for electricity, heating using a ground-water heat pump, utility rainwater and cleaned gray water from the facade water purifier.