Residential block Tetris

The Tetris residential block is located on the site of the former barracks next to a large urban complex designed by the same authors. Unlike the vast housing estate with 650 apartments, completed in 2006, the four-story mass, measuring 58 meters long, has a more intimate impression. Drawings indicate that this is the first of three identical buildings that will line Poljanska Road. Sections also reveal that the building is larger than it appears. The underground parking occupies a much larger volume than its above-ground residential part. Once the surrounding semi-derelict houses are demolished and the remaining two blocks of Tetris are completed, the quality of life will again improve at the eastern edge of Ljubljana's center.
On the sculpturally designed facade of the new Tetris building, individual apartments are clearly distinguishable by their colored cladding. Laminated cladding panels are tuned to earthy tones from beige to black, and their composition on the facade strikingly resembles the ancient computer game Tetris. The aim of this well-known game is to compactly fit different falling elements together. However, with this house, it was necessary to create 'as many mistakes in the game as possible,' meaning gaps for windows and balconies. The orientation of these openings is rotated 30 degrees towards the calmer southern part. This way, the authors will also avoid direct views into the opposite planned pair of Tetris houses on the eastern and western sides of the plot. Both 58-meter-long facades are interrupted by vertical strips of generously designed loggias, which emphasize the sculptural expression of the entire building. To the north, where busy traffic runs, the house turns with its shorter fifteen-meter side. In the southern part of the plot is a communal garden.
Each apartment (30 - 70m²) has its own glazed loggia. By pushing the load-bearing structures to the outer shell, the internal layouts of the apartments can be easily altered according to the client's wishes. Although the project budget accounted for only 650 euros/m², the architects did not forgo high-quality materials such as oak floors or granite paving.
OFIS Architects have developed a clearly recognizable style focused on the plastic play of facades. With their art of building interestingly, cheaply, and then selling for double the profit, they have attracted a range of developers. From the users' side, they manage to combat the monotony of large residential blocks with simple means, creating a familiar and friendly atmosphere in their projects.