Latest articles and insights from sustainable architecture
29 articles found
8 min read
The test worth paying for is the mid-construction one, while the airtight layer is exposed. How to read n50 and q50, how to prepare, what if it fails.
8 min read
A load-bearing wall comes down last, not first: identify it, get a structural design, trace the load to the foundation, prop it, then demolish.
8 min read
Holding stormwater on the plot and using it are two jobs. When the municipality requires it, how to choose infiltration or a tank, and when it pays off.
8 min read
An old-house walk-through ordered by what a defect costs: paperwork, structure, damp, radon, services, envelope and hazardous materials.
8 min read
South glazing shades itself with a modest overhang; west never will. How to orient a house at 48 to 49 degrees north, and what if the view fights.
8 min read
An honest head-to-head of aerated concrete and ceramic block: accuracy, lambda, strength, moisture, acoustics and a clear recommendation.
8 min read
An honest comparison of a heat pump and a condensing boiler in a new build: capital, running cost, flow temperature, noise, subsidies, hybrids.
8 min read
The better insulated a house is, the more of its carbon footprint sits in the materials. Where exactly, how to check it, and why renovation wins.
8 min read
What actually binds in a municipal land-use plan, how to obtain a planning information extract, and how to read the density regulations for your plot.
8 min read
Is the discount on a sloping plot real? How slope is measured, where the money goes, and why survey, access and orientation decide it.
8 min read
A protection zone comes from statute and is not in the cadastre. An easement is on the title deed. How to find both before you pay a deposit.
9 min read
The full plot check before you sign: zoning plan and regulations, title deed, protection zones, utilities, ground conditions, slope and access.
9 min read
What the passive house standard requires in numbers, how much it adds to a class A0 new build, where the money goes, when it returns and what goes wrong on site.
9 min read
How to choose between renovating an old house and building new: assessing the structure, the full cost including demolition and temporary housing, subsidies, permitting and embodied carbon.
9 min read
Day and night zones, the entrance sequence, orientation, and how much floor area corridors and the staircase really take.
11 min read
What changes when a house is listed or sits in a heritage zone: the order of steps, consent, subsidies and the budget contingency.
10 min read
Masonry, timber frame and CLT for a family house in Slovakia: build time, cost, thermal behaviour, acoustics, moisture and financing.
9 min read
The complete process for building a family house under Slovakia's new building act: from checking the plot through design and permitting to occupancy approval, with a realistic timeline.
9 min read
An architect's fee is not one figure but a structure: the pricing model, the design phases, and what is or isn't included. A complete guide so you can compare quotes on substance, not just price.
11 min read
How the Obnov Dom subsidy works, who qualifies, why deep renovation pays more than a shallow one, and what to check before applying. Includes the current state of the call waves.
7 min read
The order of steps in a deep home renovation decides both the savings and the cost. Why the building envelope comes before the heat source, and what goes wrong when the order is reversed.
6 min read
Your house is finished, but you can't legally move in without occupancy approval. A clear step-by-step process, checklist, and document list under Slovakia's new building act.
7 min read
The cost of a family house design project is not a single figure — it depends on the fee model, the phases commissioned, and the complexity of the brief. Here's how architect fees are calculated and what drives the final cost.
6 min read
How much more a passive house actually costs, where the investment pays back, and the payback ranges real sources report – no invented numbers, just verifiable ranges.
6 min read
Three quotes for the same house, three different prices. We explain why builders' budgets diverge and how a precise bill of quantities makes quotes genuinely comparable.
6 min read
The standalone “building permit” no longer exists in Slovakia — it has been replaced by the building intent decision under the 2025 building act. Here's how long the permitting process for a family house really takes today, and what to watch for.
5 min read
A passive house is a building with minimal energy requirements for heating and cooling. Learn about the principles behind this standard and why it represents the future of sustainable living.
7 min read
BREEAM, LEED, Passive House - an overview of the most important sustainable building certifications. What do they evaluate, how do they differ, and which one is right for your project?
4 min read
Slovakia has specific climatic conditions that require a thoughtful architectural approach. From hot summers to freezing winters - how to design buildings that work year-round?
