Four Houses in One is the name given to the work and project developed by Kuba & Pilař architekti for Neumann bytový dům. The main element that unified the residential complex is the concept of vegetation, which was introduced to gain relevance over time.
The project includes 4 buildings (2 to 2) interconnected, as well as the incorporation of natural patios that are linked to the apartments. Another point to be taken into account by the study was to orient the project towards the southwest with a view of the Brno Exhibition Center.
Description of project by Kuba & Pilař architekti
The building is located in a quiet residential Masaryk district, full of quality pre-war functionalist architecture. The volume and spatial solution is based on the character and proportions of the nearest buildings.
Residential complex consists of four blocks of different sizes - apartment buildings - which protrude above the terrain from a common underground base. The set of buildings thus naturally fits into its surroundings. The site with a south-west orientation and an attractive view over the Brno Exhibition Centre to the Kohoutovice forest was the reason for the maximum orientation and the opening of the residential complex into this direction. The apartment buildings descend along the slope, their height decreases towards the southern tip of the plot. The pair of buildings along Neumannova Street has four floors above the ground and one underground floor, which are connected by a staircase hall with elevators.
Two lower apartment buildings have three and two floors above the ground, and with their smaller volume they follow the size of villas along the lower part of the plot. Between the sidewalk of Neumannova Street and the upper apartment buildings, a semi-private living space with a seating area has been designed. On the roof of the parking base between the individual buildings is a private courtyard with gardens connected to the apartments. They are separated by low hedges - gabion baskets planted with hornbeams.
The set of buildings is built as a combined brick and reinforced concrete structure. The facades are clad with clinker brick slips. The smooth surfaces of the fixed and sliding panels made of aluminium sheets provide contrast to the structured surface of the brick slips. The floors of common areas inside buildings, stairs and tiling of entrance vestibule are made of cast terrazzo. Ceilings, stairs and elevator shafts were made as structural elements from exposed concrete. The unifying element of the whole building is the concept of greenery, which will stand out more and more over the time.
