Industrial Street Villa

Industrial Street Villa 

Case Studio for Architecture

Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​

DESIGN TEAM
Julija Čiapaitė - Jurevičienė, Karolina Čiplytė

MANUFACTURERS
Betonika, Gealan, Medžio Forma, Platek, Thorup Copenhagen

PHOTOGRAPHS
Norbert Tukaj​

AREA
119 M²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Vilnius, Lithuania

CATEGORY
Residential Architecture, Houses

Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​

Text description provided by architect.

A residential house located in Naujoji Vilnia, a former industrial district in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The house is situated in a contrasting area where the green valley of Vilnia River meets a harsh street and railway, with homes tightly packed next to large industrial buildings awaiting conversion.

Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​

Given this unique setting, the house was named the 'Industrial Villa.' It features an iconic industrial silhouette, constructed from three-layer prefabricated concrete, adding a 'concrete crown' to the skyline of Naujoji Vilnia, dominated by chimneys and industrial buildings.

The project drew significant inspiration from the nearby industrial surroundings, incorporating elements such as materiality and prefabricated assembly techniques.

Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​

Concrete components for the house were cast 30 km away from the construction site and assembled on-site with industrial efficiency. This approach sustainably minimized excess logistics and construction waste.

Daylight options were also considered: sawtooth windows, typically used in industrial buildings to illuminate dark spaces, were adapted to bring natural light into the house's staircase and bathroom while also providing ambient light for the bedrooms.

Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​

The concrete surfaces, both inside and outside, are left as the final wall finish. In contrast, all the surfaces frequently touched by residents—such as floors, furniture, countertops, and bathroom surfaces—are made from wood, providing a warm, natural, and humane atmosphere. Together with the views opening up to the river valley, this creates a villa-like, leisurely lifestyle.

The circular ground floor plan and sliding windows on three sides of the house allow for unrestrained movement, functionally connecting indoor and outdoor spaces.

Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​

On the second floor, double sliding wooden doors divide the concrete structure into private rooms, but when open, they take up no extra space, leaving large openings for easy circulation between areas. Throughout the house, several mirrored doors were installed in key places.

These juxtapose the view seen through the window with the background reflected in the mirror—rails, roads, and chimneys against lush valley greenery—highlighting the two contrasting natures of the house: the industrial and the natural.

Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​

To preserve and restore the site's hydrological regime, roof runoff water is collected by continuous 7-meter-long metal 'tongues' and released to fall freely on the blind side of the house into a 1-meter-deep 'dry river bed' made of pebbles, onsite stones, and plants.

This system collects stormwater, temporarily stores it, and allows it to slowly infiltrate into the soil, supporting groundwater recharge.

Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​


Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​


Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​


Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​
Industrial Street Villa
© Norbert Tukaj​


Industrial Street Villa
Ground Floor Plan
Industrial Street Villa
1st Floor Plan


Industrial Street Villa
Section
Industrial Street Villa
East Elevation