This house near the centre of Skopje, in the popular Taftalidze neighbourhood, was the architects’ third residential project in 30 years for the same client. The brief was for a highly contemporary two-storey home - at least one floor lower than planning regulations allow. The entrance leads to a central staircase that connects all levels, each level treated as a separate apartment: the ground floor designed for the parents and the upper floor for the children. A large south-facing terrace on the upper level offers mountain views. The basement is split into two parts - one hosting utilities and storage, the other a "man’s retreat" with bar, entertaining area, and home cinema. All materials were selected for their eco-friendly qualities and to create an energy-efficient house. The building was awarded a BIG SEE Architecture Award in 2020, and its design has already influenced that of many others in the neighbourhood. 

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture