in the center of the hungarian town of dabas, adam balog blends modernism and vernacular architecture within the semi-detached house ‘klapka’. the project includes two L-shaped apartments clad with white plastered walls, a wood-covered barn-like garage, and a storage wing, all smoothly integrated into the local traditional architecture.a modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 1
view from the street

all images courtesy of balazs danyi

 

 

‘semi-detached house’ by adam balog functions as an experimental project rethinking how people live in the hungarian countryside. the town adopts a village-like character, while the streets are very heterogeneous. taking advantage of these surroundings, the dwelling utilizes the maximum available building space and emerges as an urban atrium house.a modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 5the entrance from the inner courtyard

 

 

the L-shaped plans of the two dwellings frame an inner courtyard, a garage, and storage, creating a U-form. the shape of the plans draws influence from the 1960s and 1970s hungarian examples with similar floor plan typology (L-form), such as the patio house from roland rainer in puchenau, lajos mátis in szombathely and ildikó sz. buzás in veszprém. the inner courtyard is set in the middle of the house and is divided into two parts by a wall. the garage and storage wing serves as a barn-like element, where the wind flows through the wooden slats. meanwhile, the materiality of the house merges with the surroundings.a modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 7
inner courtyard with the barn-like garage

 

 

the architect designed the plan floors asymmetrical, fulfilling the different needs of the clients and the local building regulations. apartment ‘A’ serves the demands of a family of four. furthermore, the dwelling features a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, two child’s rooms with a corridor, an extra bathroom, and a wardrobe. at the same time, a big kitchen-dining-living area occupies the middle of the apartment.a modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 6
inner courtyard

 

 

apartment ‘B’ includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen-dinning area, while the living room is separated from the dining zone, functioning also as a guest room. at the same time, this dwelling features a summer kitchen and a small cosmetic studio. the living and dining spaces in both houses allow plenty of light to penetrate the rooms during the summertime.a modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 8
the terrace of apartment ‘B’a modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 2detail of the street façadea modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 3
the open gate of the garagea modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 9
the kitchen of the apartment ‘B’ with view to the inner courtyarda modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 10
kitchen of the apartment ‘B’a modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 4
transparency of the garage in the eveninga modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 11
floor plan of the semi-detached housea modern semi detached house with a vernacular touch by architect adam balog 12
axonometrical plan of the semi-detached house

 

 

project info:

 

name: semi-detached house ‘klapka’

architect: adam balog – architect

location: dabas, hungary

total floor area apartment ‘A’: 120 sqm (1292 sqft) + 20 sqm (215 sqft) storage

total floor area apartment ‘B’: 105 sqm (1130 sqft) + 40 sqm (430 sqft) storage

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina petridou | designboom