Ofis Sarl

Tetris Apartments

Front view of the apartment block’s projecting volumes, balconies and dark metal railings.
© OFIS Architects

TETRIS APARTMENTS

OFIS Arhitekti

ARCHITECTS
OFIS Architects

AREA
5000.0 m2

YEAR
2007

CATEGORY
Apartments

LOCATION
Ljubljana , Slovenia

Text description provided by architect.

The location is on the edge of the planned 650 apartments which was finished year ago. Also this apartment block is social type and was sold to Slovenian Housing Fund.

Corner view of Tetris Apartments showing its staggered balconies and contrasting façade panels.
© OFIS Architects
Street-facing façade with alternating dark, brown and light panels around apartment balconies.
© OFIS Architects

The given urban plot of the building was 4 floors high, 58 meters long and 15 in width.

Since the orientation of the building is towards the busy highway the apartment opening together with balconies are shifted as 30 degrees window-wings towards the quieter and south orientated side.

In the future also 2 more blocks are planned on both longitudinal sides; therefore there are no direct windows towards east and west. Each apartment has view towards its own balcony, sometimes there is also a glazed loggia. On this way intimacy is created and there will be no direct views from ones apartment directly to the others in the opposite block.

Close view of projecting balconies with perforated panel screens and metal railings.
© OFIS Architects
Low-angle view of a recessed balcony framed by pale and brown façade panels.
© OFIS Architects

Apartments are of different sizes - from 30m2 studio flats up to 3 room apartment of 70m2. Bigger apartments are developed on the front facades and have nicer views and corner orientation. 

They are made of economic but quality materials such as wooden oak floors, granite tiled bathrooms and have large windows with external metal blinds.

Close view of the façade’s wood-toned panels and perforated balcony screens.
© OFIS Architects
End view of the apartment block with stacked balconies above a low boundary wall.
© OFIS Architects
Apartment façade with staggered balconies, perforated screens and external window blinds.
© OFIS Architects

The concept of structure is made in a way, that floor plans are flexible, since only structural walls are those, that separate apartment shell from the rest of the building. All other inner walls are non-structural.

Long after the elevations were planned many people associated them to Tetris game. And so the building got its name. The façade was developed simply - just tracing the floor plan organization.

The inner - structural façade wall has plaster; the external wall that embraces the loggia is glazed or wrapped into precast panel.

Apartment interior opening onto a glazed balcony with a metal railing and outdoor view.
© OFIS Architects
Interior stair landing beside a tall window overlooking the building’s paved forecourt.
© OFIS Architects

These panels are wooden of three colors that are tracing the vertical zigzag pattern. Balcony fences are either perforated precast panel or transparent metal fence.


Close view along the façade, showing projecting balconies and perforated panels beside a neighbouring building.
© OFIS Architects
Street-level view of repeating apartment balconies with perforated screens and dark blinds.
© OFIS Architects
Angled view of Tetris Apartments, designed by Ofis Sarl, showing its projecting volumes and zigzagging façade.
© OFIS Architects
Wide view of the apartment block and its paved forecourt, with varied projecting balconies along the façade.
© OFIS Architects
Long façade of the apartment block viewed across a lawn, with balconies arranged in a repeating pattern.
© OFIS Architects


Longitudinal building plan showing the apartment block’s repeated projecting bays and central circulation spine.
Longitudinal section through the apartment block, showing its stacked floors and structural supports.


Apartment floor plan with units arranged along a central corridor and angled exterior bays.
Apartment floor plan showing repeated units along a central corridor, with projecting balconies.
Apartment floor plan with a central corridor and a repeated pattern of units and balconies.


Facade elevation drawing with repeated balcony bays in alternating brown, tan, and gray panels.
Two facade elevation studies showing different arrangements of colored panels and balconies, with a color key.
Facade elevation studies showing repeated balcony bays with contrasting brown, tan, and gray panels.


Cross-section through the garage beneath the apartment building, showing a sloped vehicle ramp.
Cross-section through the stairwell, showing the apartment floors, zigzag stairs, and underground parking.
Site plan showing the long apartment block, surrounding streets, neighboring plots, and landscaped areas.

Ofis Sarl
Ofis Sarl