Prefab solar-powered home is a modern take on the traditional Slovenian farmhouse

The gabled shape of this single-family home may remind you of a traditional farmhouse, but a closer look reveals that it’s anything but.

Built in the bucolic landscape of Radovljica, Slovenia, the Simple House was designed by scapelab as a modern take on the archetypal Slovenian farmhouse. The home was constructed with a prefab timber frame and topped with solar panels to lower its environmental footprint and maintenance costs.

Scapelab clad the Simple House’s basic pitched-roof volume with a contemporary facade made of zinc sheet metal and wood. The architects created interesting and clean geometry by pairing horizontally oriented timber louvers on the north and south facades with vertically oriented zinc panels that cover the roof and portions of the east and west sides. The use of cost-effective and low-maintenance materials with prefabrication techniques allowed the architects to quickly assemble the house on-site in a matter of days.

Although the Simple House lacks windows, the louvers and gaps between panels allow natural light and ventilation to enter the interior while preserving privacy. The occupants can take advantage of surrounding views and passive solar principles by opening up the doors on the southern or northern terraces. The home’s energy-efficient envelope, solar panels, and central heating plant ensure low utility costs.