Simple Elegance: 12 Remote Slovenian Homes at One With the Landscape

Drawing inspiration from their idyllic contexts, the homes emerge between rugged mountains and expansive open spaces.

Slovenian architecture emerges from its geography. Identified by four macro regions, from the Alpine and Mediterranean areas to Dinaric and Pannonian landscapes, Slovenia is known for its rich environmental context. As one of the most water-rich countries in Europe, the mountainous nation-state has a largely dispersed and uneven population. Located across scattered settlements, modern Slovenian designs embrace diverse surroundings. Boasting significant private projects and residences, the country’s contemporary homes respect building traditions while reinterpreting them.

Drawing together remote Slovenian retreats from the Architizer database, this collection explores designs that are secluded and intricate in nature. Crafted with meticulous detailing and modern formal approaches, each project captures dramatic views while maintaining privacy. Drawing inspiration from their idyllic contexts, the homes emerge between rugged mountains and expansive open spaces. Designed to lay lightly upon the land, they are made with minimal impact to the environment. Together, they embody a lightness and delight that’s uniquely Slovenian.

House DB by AB objekt d.o.o., Pongrac, Slovenia

This modern private retreat was designed near Pongrac, Slovenia. Simple forms and detailing combine to create an elegant home oriented to views of the surrounding landscape.

The Black Barn by Arhitektura d.o.o., Slovenia

Located on the edge of a small village, Black Barn rests atop a hill overlooking forests, farmland and an apiary. Designed as a “modern Slovenian hayrack,” the project serves as both a meeting space to host visitors and as a working barn for dispensing honey, handling fruit and storing tools.

House Svetelka by AB objekt d.o.o., Svetelka, Slovenia

Sited in Svetelka, this contemporary residence was made as a stacked two-story volume. Built in an idyllic landscape, the house features a warm material palette and modern interior design.

Winter Cabin on Mount Kanin by OFIS architects, Kanin

Designed to resist extreme mountaintop conditions, the Winter Cabin is located on a site only accessible by climbing or helicopter. Made to have a minimal impact on the ground, the structure looks out towards 360-degree views of Slovenia, Italy and the Adriatic sea.

Villa On the Deck into Lifeby Superform, Ljubno ob Savinji, Slovenia

As a reconstruction that connects two existing houses, this villa explores design in the Savinjska dolina region along the Ljubnica stream. While one volume appears introverted and monolithic with a traditional “gank” balcony, the other house is open and made to seemingly float above the terrain.

House MJ by Kombinat, Novo Mesto, Slovenia

Standing on a patch of meadow near a forest edge, House MJ overlooks the town of Novo Mesto. Opening to the northwest, the house adapts to the terrain with a prefabricated timber frame and larch wood façade.

House on Goloby ARK Arhitektura Krušec d.o.o., Golo, Slovenia

Designed to reinterpret its context and bring clarity to the site, this residence emerged from an appreciation for the peaks of Julijske Alpe, Karavanke and the Kamniško-Savinjske Alpe. The design represents the area’s essential characteristics through color, texture and tectonic layering.

House M by SoNo arhitekti, Slovenia

House M explores standard architectural elements and centers around a dominant gabled roof. Formed with three elongated volumes, the house was made with a dynamic ground floor organization and a uniform façade.

Family House by Ravnikar Potokar architectural office, Rakitna, Slovenia

Designed around the cardinal directions and the surrounding landscape, Family House is defined by its location in rural Rakitna. The project was formed with a clear-shaped triangular roof placed atop a wooden living volume with cut-in fenestration.

SIMPLE HOUSE by scapelab, Radovljica, Slovenia

Located in the serene area of Radovljica, this small single-family house adopts the archetypical house shape with a pitched roof and clean volume. Proportionally, the design relates to old Slovenian farmhouses while a contemporary building envelope covers all the loggias and windows.

Compact Karst Houseby dekleva gregoric architects, Vrhovlje, Slovenia

As a contemporary redefinition of a traditional Karst house, this small, compact project was made for a young family. Inspired by the traditions and principles of these almost windowless Karst structures, the house was made as a monolithic mono-material volume connected within a shared, open gallery.

© OFIS architects, Rieder Smart Elements

Alpine Shelter Skuta by OFIS architects and Rieder Smart Elements, Slovenia

Designed as an innovative and practical shelter within an extreme alpine climate, this project was inspired by Slovenia’s architectural heritage. Addressing its harsh conditions among the Kamnik Alps, the shelter replaces a 50-year-old bivouac with three connected modules.

Author: Eric Baldwin

Based in New York City, Eric was trained in both architecture and communications. As Director of Communications at Sasaki, he has a background spanning media, academia, and practice. He's deeply committed to trying as many restaurants as possible in NYC.