Residency of the German Embassador in Slovakia

The new residence of the German Ambassador in Bratislava has representative functions, which are open to visitors, but also reserves private space for the ambassador’s family. The site’s exquisite location in itself offered the potential of impressive views towards South and East and featured some expressive existing trees. The central idea for the design is that of a spatial sequence which stages the topographical setting and the movement from the lower street entrance to the site’s upper terrace. The wall accompanying the driveway forms a meandering ribbon leading to the welcoming entrance court, which is accentuated by a small grove of chestnut trees. The building forms an angle giving form to the yard and assigning representative and private functions to its respective wings. The two garden areas atmospherically mirror this functional difference. The representative terrace opens the garden to a panoramic view across city and Danube River. The hedge garden, on the contrary, is accessible from the lower story and has a closed, even sunken ambiance. Here, set on lawn stairs, which quietly descend from the mountain, and framed by high hornbeam hedges, the existing fruit trees are given an almost sculptural appearance.

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Gernot Schulz Architekten