Glossary

A secondary residential unit on the same lot as a primary home, with its own kitchen, bathroom, and living space, requiring planning approval and sometimes a separate utility meter depending on Slovak building law.

Giving an existing building a new use it was not designed for, retaining its structure and most of its fabric, which keeps the embodied carbon already spent instead of writing it off at demolition.

Government fees charged by the building authority for processing permit applications, extensions, appeals, and other official acts during the construction approval process. Amounts vary by building type and procedure.

Air changes per hour at 50 Pa pressure difference. Measures building envelope leakiness via blower-door test. Passive House standard requires n50 ≤ 0.6/h.

A reverse-cycle system that extracts heat from outdoor air to warm a building in winter and reverses operation to cool it in summer, serving as both heating and cooling with high seasonal efficiency.

A renewable system that extracts heat from outdoor air and transfers it to water for radiators or underfloor heating.

A single-number acoustic rating, measured in decibels (Rw), quantifying how effectively a building element blocks sound transmitted through air. Higher Rw values indicate better insulation against voices, music, traffic, and other airborne noise.

The ability of the building envelope to prevent uncontrolled air infiltration. Measured by blower-door test and expressed as n50 value (air changes at 50 Pa pressure difference). For passive houses, the required value is n50 ≤ 0.6/h. Airtightness is crucial for energy efficiency and condensation prevention.

A formal procedural remedy filed by a party to building proceedings who believes the decision violates applicable law or contains factual errors. Appeals are governed by the new Act 25/2025 (effective April 1, 2025) and have automatic suspensive effect.

Compensation for architectural services, calculated as a percentage of construction cost, hourly rate, or fixed fee, covering design documentation, permitting assistance, and project coordination.

A transparent selection process where an investor requests multiple architects to submit independent design proposals, judged by an expert panel to select the best solution for a planned project.

The initial design phase where an architect translates a client's intentions into visual spatial proposals, including floor plans, sections, elevations, and 3D visualizations, to test and refine design solutions before permit documentation.

A computer-generated spatial depiction of a building's future exterior and/or interior, used to communicate design intent to clients before construction.

The complete technical record of a completed building, documenting what was actually constructed, deviations from approved plans, system performance tests, and material certifications—essential for occupancy approval and future maintenance.

A post-construction geodetic survey documenting the actual location, dimensions, and elevations of completed structures to verify compliance with approved plans and enable cadastral registration.

A residential building organized around an internal courtyard or central void, turning inward to create private outdoor space while moderating climate and distributing natural light.

The adaptation of underutilized attic or roof space into habitable rooms by adding insulation, ventilation, and interior finishing while meeting minimum ceiling height and usable floor area requirements.

Expert oversight of construction by the original architect or designer to ensure the design intent, aesthetic choices, and technical specifications are faithfully implemented, protecting design quality and budget compliance.

A lightweight autoclaved concrete with a closed pore structure that lays fast and true, insulates well for a masonry unit, and absorbs water readily.

A detailed itemized list of all materials, labor, and work quantities required for a construction project, used as the basis for contractor bids and cost comparison.

An open standard for exchanging coordination issues as viewpoints and comments, letting consultants review clashes in their own software.

The iterative process of comparing and resolving conflicts between separate discipline models (architecture, structural, MEP) before construction begins, usually via a shared digital environment.

A document agreed between client and delivery team that specifies roles, responsibilities, information standards, and delivery schedules for a BIM project.

A formal statement issued by an affected authority that specifies requirements and conditions affecting a building project, binding on the building authority's decision under Slovakia's Building Act 25/2025.

A formal statement from a utility or network operator confirming the presence, route, and connection conditions of their infrastructure at a building site; required documentation for building permits and construction projects in Slovakia.

Building materials derived from renewable biological feedstocks such as timber, straw, or cork, offering carbon storage during the building's lifetime.

A legal requirement in England to leave a site's biodiversity measurably better than before development through habitat surveys and metrics.

A heating appliance that burns organic matter (wood, pellets, or agricultural waste) to generate heat for domestic water and space heating. Biomass boilers are renewable energy systems eligible under Slovakia's Zelená Domácnostiam subsidy programme.

Flat-roof waterproofing built from two bitumen sheets modified with SBS or APP, torched, bonded or mechanically fixed, with the laps of the two layers deliberately offset.

A diagnostic test that measures the airtightness of a building envelope using a calibrated fan mounted in a door frame. The result is expressed as the n50 value — the number of air changes per hour at a pressure difference of 50 pascals.

A network of water and vegetation systems in urban space that manages stormwater, reduces flooding, and mitigates urban heat as functional infrastructure.

A planted roof with an engineered water-retention layer beneath the growing medium, designed to store stormwater and provide irrigation during dry periods.

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method - the oldest and most widespread certification system for building sustainability assessment. Originated in the United Kingdom in 1990. Evaluates buildings in categories: management, health and wellbeing, energy, transport, water, materials, waste, land use, and pollution. Certification levels: Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, Outstanding.

The process of remediating and repurposing abandoned industrial or commercial properties to remove environmental contamination and enable new productive uses.

Online registry of shared BIM property definitions, classifications, and values with persistent identifiers for consistent terminology across tools and teams.

The legal right and technical feasibility to construct on a specific plot according to zoning regulations and municipal land-use plans; verified before purchase via territorial planning information.

The legal party responsible for initiating and financing a construction project from planning through occupancy approval, who holds the legal right to the property and bears statutory responsibility for compliance.

Slovakia's new building code effective since April 1, 2025, replacing the 1976 act with streamlined procedures for construction permitting, design approval, and occupancy verification.

The municipal or regional government body responsible for reviewing, approving, and overseeing residential and commercial construction projects under the new Slovak Building Act 25/2025.

A zoning metric expressing the percentage of a plot's area that can be covered by building footprint, used to control development density and ensure adequate open space in residential and commercial zones.

The continuous boundary between conditioned and outdoor space, formed by three unbroken layers: thermal insulation, air barrier, and weather protection.

Transfer of a completed building from builder to owner, including defect inspection, keys and documents, and commencement of the warranty period.

A digital process of creating and managing an intelligent 3D building model with structured data that serves throughout the entire lifecycle from design through construction to operation and maintenance.

Unified project documentation combining location approval and basic building design under Slovakia's 2025 law, replacing the previous two-stage territorial and building permit process.

The primary authorization document issued by Slovak building authorities under the 2025 Building Act, replacing the old building permit by consolidating zoning approval and construction authorization into a single decision. Valid for 2–3 years depending on project type.

The unified administrative process under Slovakia's 2025 Building Act that consolidates zoning and construction permitting into a single proceeding, replacing the previous two-tier system.

A regulatory boundary established by municipal spatial plans that defines where a building must align with or be set back from a street, controlling street frontage and urban form.

A temporary prohibition or restriction on construction activity in a defined territory, typically declared by municipal authorities during spatial planning to protect public interest.

The legal authorization issued under Slovakia's 1976 Building Act permitting construction; legally replaced by the Building Intent Decision (rozhodnutie o stavebnom zámere) since April 2025, though still the highest-volume search term.

Technical documentation package for building permit applications under Slovakia's 1976-2025 system, replaced by building intent documentation since April 2025.

The official and real-world timeframe required to obtain a building permit in Slovakia; official deadlines were 30–60 days under the 1976 Act, but practical processing often took 3–9 months due to prerequisite authority opinions.

A parcel of land legally designated for construction under Act 25/2025, either through zoning designation, existing building structures, or formal removal from agricultural soil.

A digital roadmap that guides building owners through staged deep energy renovations by outlining sequential improvement steps, energy savings, costs, and timelines aligned with EU climate targets.

Downward movement of a foundation and structure over time. Uniform settlement is normal; differential settlement causes cracks and structural damage.

Geodetic marking of a building's precise location and elevation on the ground before construction begins, performed by licensed surveyors to transfer architectural plans into physical site markers.

Photovoltaic technology seamlessly incorporated into building materials—roofs, facades, windows, or thermal systems—that generates electricity while serving as structural or weatherproofing elements.

Legally mandated minimum spacing between buildings and property boundaries, typically 7m between residential structures and 2m from boundary lines in Slovakia; reduced distances apply on constrained sites.

Bespoke joinery made to fit one exact space, worth its cost for awkward geometry and fixed services, but successful only when locked in before electrical and plumbing first fix.

A single-story residential house with all rooms on one level, requiring a larger plot and foundation but offering barrier-free living and simplicity of layout.

The final administrative step that formally records a completed building in the national land cadastre, securing ownership and enabling property transfer, financing, and mortgage registration after occupancy approval.

A technical document prepared by an authorized surveyor that graphically represents changes to land parcel boundaries, required for property division, easement registration, and cadastral documentation in Slovakia.

Water drawn upward through masonry pores by surface tension, often misdiagnosed and over-treated with chemical injection despite simpler solutions.

An open-sided structure sheltering vehicles with minimal zoning requirements, offering substantial cost and design advantages over enclosed garages.

A fired hollow clay unit and the material behind most load-bearing house walls in Slovakia, built either as a single leaf or as a structural block with external insulation.

A formal document issued by the building authority confirming that a completed building is technically suitable for its intended use. Under Slovakia's new Building Act 25/2025 (effective April 2025), it replaces the previous occupancy decision and authorizes permanent building operation.

Any deviation from approved construction documents during building implementation, requiring formal authorization from the building authority before the structure can be completed and occupied.

A formal modification to how a building is used—such as converting an attic to an apartment or a house to an office—that typically requires authorization from the building authority under Slovak building law.

An economic model for building that retains material value through reuse and recovery, replacing linear take-make-dispose with closed-loop material flows.

Circulation space is every square metre in a house whose job is movement, not use: halls, corridors, landings and stairs, built at the same cost as living space but never furnished.

An automated geometric test that compares discipline models and flags every overlap or clearance violation before construction, distinct from a human design coordination meeting.

A fired clay tile laid on battens, the traditional Slovak pitched-roof covering. Its colour is in the fired body, so the shade stays stable for decades.

The design and retrofit strategies that help buildings withstand and remain comfortable during climate impacts like extreme heat, water scarcity, storms, and drought, independent of reducing emissions.

Design enabling buildings to remain safe and habitable through heat, storms, drought, and power loss, adapted to the climate of 2070-2100.

Ratio of heat output to electrical energy input for a heat pump at a specific test point; meaningless without stating the source and sink temperatures.

A system that simultaneously produces electricity and usable thermal energy from a single fuel source, achieving overall efficiency of 65–90% by capturing waste heat that would otherwise be lost.

The single, status-controlled location where the current revision of every project document and model lives, with a full audit trail of who approved what and when.

A residential house with a simple cubic or near-cubic form designed to minimize exterior surface area relative to volume, reducing heat loss and achieving low-energy or passive house standards cost-effectively.

The ratio of a building's external surface area (A) to its enclosed volume (V), expressed as m2/m3. Lower ratios indicate more compact forms and less heat loss; a key <a href="/en/glossary/passive-house">passive house</a> design metric.

Concrete curing is the deliberate protection of freshly placed concrete, keeping it wet and at a workable temperature so hydration can continue and design strength develop.

A pressed cement and sand tile laid on battens, the budget pitched-roof covering in Slovakia. Its pigment sits in a surface layer, so the colour softens with age.

A gas boiler that recovers latent heat from flue-gas water vapour when return water is cool, reaching high efficiency only with low-temperature heating systems.

A proposed Slovak building-law reform enacted in 2022 but never entered into force; superseded by Act 25/2025 Z. z. effective April 1, 2025. Relevant for understanding legislative history only; refer to the current Building Act for active law.

Mixed materials generated during building construction, renovation, and demolition, including concrete, wood, metals, and gypsum. Proper sorting on site reduces disposal costs and enables material recovery.

A cost estimate of all materials, labor, and services required to complete a construction project, which evolves from preliminary orientational figures to itemized detailed budgets as the design progresses.

A mandatory daily record of construction site activities, progress, inspections, and compliance documentation maintained throughout the building phase until occupancy approval.

Protection against physical damage to the building, materials, and equipment during construction, typically covering all parties involved from site preparation through practical completion.

Expert oversight of construction work on behalf of the builder, performed by an authorized professional to ensure compliance with project documentation, technical standards, and safety regulations under Slovak law.

The statutory period during which a contractor is legally responsible for construction defects; in Slovakia, 3 years from handover for buildings built under Civil Code contracts.

An architectural approach that designs buildings in response to their specific physical, cultural, and social surroundings rather than applying universal design principles.

A binding legal agreement between a client and contractor that defines the scope, price, timeline, and warranty for construction work. The contract specifies essential clauses such as payment terms, milestones, penalties, and defect liability.

A legally qualified person or entity responsible for executing construction works according to approved plans, technical standards, and the building owner's requirements.

A structured procurement process where a private client, with their architect's guidance, invites multiple construction contractors to bid on a defined project, evaluating bids on cost, qualifications, and methodology to select the most capable team.

The process of integrating mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural systems by ensuring all building professions communicate and align their designs before construction begins. Poor coordination leads to clashes, costly rework, and delays.

A resilient floor finish made from cork oak bark, warm and quiet underfoot, but prone to denting and to fading in direct sunlight.

The energy performance level of a building that minimizes total lifecycle costs, used by EU member states to set minimum energy performance requirements.

An outdoor space with a roof structure that extends from a building facade, serving both as usable living area and as a passive solar-shading device to control seasonal sun exposure on adjacent windows.

A product-level certification that verifies materials can cycle indefinitely through biological or technical loops without degradation, assessing material health, reuse potential, renewable energy, water, and social fairness.

Modern architecture grounded in climate, topography, and local culture, resisting international style placelessness and superficial historical imitation.

Engineered timber made from multiple layers of solid-sawn lumber glued at perpendicular angles, providing high strength and dimensional stability comparable to reinforced concrete.

A horizontal barrier installed at foundation level to prevent ground moisture from rising into walls via capillary action, essential for protecting building interiors from rising damp.

A spatial grouping of living, dining, and kitchen functions into a cohesive residential area, distinguished by intentional transitions that balance openness with separation and thermal or acoustic control.

Labor-intensive dismantling of a building to recover and reuse materials, conducted in reverse order of construction rather than rapid demolition.

Slovak regulatory instrument implementing the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive into national law, establishing minimum energy performance standards, certification requirements, and renovation obligations for residential and non-residential buildings effective from 1 April 2025.

A foundation transferring loads to deep soil or rock via piles when surface ground is inadequate for shallow foundations.

A comprehensive renovation targeting 50–60% energy reduction through simultaneous upgrades to the building envelope, air sealing, heating systems, and ventilation, often supported by Slovak subsidy programs like Obnov Dom.

The legal period following building handover during which a contractor is responsible for correcting defects; distinguished from warranty period by its focus on liability mechanisms, hidden defects, and retention money practices.

The energy actually consumed by a building at the point of use, measured in kWh and invoiced to the building owner—distinct from primary energy, which accounts for extraction and conversion losses.

An official authorization from the building authority required to legally remove or demolish an existing structure, issued under the Building Act.

Technical and organizational documentation that specifies how an existing structure will be safely dismantled, including waste management and environmental protection measures.

A measure of building intensity regulated by lot coverage and floor area ratio indices in municipal zoning plans, controlling how much you can build on a plot.

A foundational document that captures the client's project objectives, spatial requirements, lifestyle preferences, budget, and constraints, developed collaboratively between client and architect to guide all subsequent design decisions.

Design that separates building layers by lifespan so structures and systems can change without replacement, extending usefulness and reducing demolition.

A design discipline using reversible fixings and separable material layers so building components can be removed intact for repair, replacement, or reuse.

Standardized steps from initial concept through building completion defined by the Slovak Chamber of Architects that structure how architects deliver work and calculate fees.

The licensed architect or engineer whose seal appears on construction documents and who bears legal responsibility for design compliance, code adherence, and engineering coordination throughout a project's lifecycle.

The temperature at which air of a given humidity becomes saturated and its vapour begins to condense. It is a property of the air, not of the wall.

A holistic building sustainability certification system developed by the German Sustainable Building Council that evaluates environmental, social, economic, and technical performance across the full building lifecycle.

An EU assessment framework requiring funded activities to avoid significant environmental harm across six ecological objectives, commonly applied to building and renovation projects seeking EU subsidies.

Engineered timber made from solid-wood laminations connected by hardwood dowels rather than adhesive, offering glue-free construction with improved indoor air quality and end-of-life recyclability.

A legal right to use or restrict use of another's property, registered in the land registry and binding on all subsequent owners. Essential to verify before property purchase in Slovakia.

A spatially connected section of landscape enabling wildlife movement between protected ecosystem areas, designated in Slovakia's Territorial System of Ecological Stability and a binding constraint on rural site design.

An IFC-backed green building certification focusing on resource efficiency (energy, water, waste) designed for emerging markets and cost-conscious projects.

Costs meeting a subsidy programme's rules on scope, timing, documentation, and payment method; costs outside these rules are rejected at reimbursement.

Greenhouse gas emissions released during the manufacturing, transport, construction, and end-of-life phases of building materials and components, before a building is ever occupied.

A professional who guides homeowners through renovation subsidy applications and energy-efficiency decisions; authorization limits are set by each programme.

A systematic professional assessment of a building's energy consumption and efficiency, identifying energy losses and recommending cost-effective improvements to reduce operating costs and carbon footprint.

A harmonized European classification system from A0 to G that rates a building's energy efficiency based on annual primary energy consumption. Class A0 represents nearly zero-energy buildings, while G marks the least efficient. This scale became mandatory across the EU from 29 May 2026.

A standardized visual rating from A to G that communicates a building's annual energy consumption and efficiency, mandatory for sale or rental in the EU since 2024.

A legal document that rates a building's energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), based on its annual primary energy consumption. Required in the EU when selling, renting, or commissioning a new building.

A quantitative metric measuring a building's annual energy consumption per unit of floor area (kWh/m²/year), used to rate efficiency and compliance with building standards.

EU regulatory framework establishing minimum energy performance standards for buildings, mandatory renovation targets, and requirements for zero-emission new construction across all member states.

A household condition where energy expenditure represents a disproportionate share of income, linked in Slovakia to subsidy programs targeting low-income renovation.

A composite flooring product with a real wood wear layer bonded to a plywood or hardwood substrate, engineered for dimensional stability and compatibility with underfloor heating.

A small enclosed vestibule or entry room that serves as a thermal buffer and transition zone between the exterior and interior of a home, containing storage for outerwear and dirt-trapping flooring.

A binding environmental opinion issued by the district office's environmental protection department on waste management, water discharge, and nature protection aspects of a building project.

A systematic procedure required by Slovak law to evaluate the environmental and health effects of larger development projects before construction begins. Projects meeting size or sensitivity thresholds must be screened to determine if a full EIA study is needed.

A verified document quantifying environmental impacts of a material or product across its lifecycle, expressed in kg CO2e and standardized indicators.

Rigid polystyrene foam insulation: expanded EPS for facades and roofs, extruded XPS for plinths, inverted roofs and anywhere water and load meet.

An EU classification framework that defines technical criteria for buildings to qualify as economically sustainable, used to guide green investment and measure climate impact in the built environment.

The compulsory acquisition of privately owned land or buildings by the state for public-benefit structures, with fair compensation determined by law. Governed in Slovakia by Act 282/2015.

A formal request to extend the time allowed to begin construction after a building permit or decision expires, used when delays prevent the project from starting on schedule.

A multi-layer external insulation system that improves thermal performance of building walls by combining insulation boards with protective coating layers. The most common facade renovation method in Slovakia.

The framework carrying cladding on a ventilated facade. Brackets are thermal bridges; spacing and thermal design control the wall's effective U-value.

A preliminary technical, legal, and financial analysis determining whether a project is viable to proceed, typically completed before detailed design.

Separate discipline models (architecture, structure, MEP) linked in one coordinate space for coordination and review, without merging source files.

The physical on-site inspection conducted by building authorities to verify that completed construction conforms to approved plans, meets all applicable technical and safety standards, and is ready for occupancy or use.

A mandatory binding opinion issued by the Slovak Fire and Rescue Service (HaZZ) during building permitting, confirming that the project complies with fire-safety regulations and structural fire-resistance requirements.

Sound that bypasses a separating wall by travelling through the continuous floors, ceilings and facades running past it.

A residential house with a minimally sloped roof that is nearly horizontal, using modern waterproofing membranes for weather protection and enabling green roofs and solar installations.

A floor assembly decoupled from the structure by a resilient layer to reduce impact sound transmission. Performance fails when rigid paths bypass the isolation.

A land area with a documented risk of inundation from river overflow or extreme precipitation, requiring flood-resistant design and affecting both permitting and insurance costs.

Design and construction strategies that either resist floodwater entry or allow a building to survive, recover, and dry quickly after flooding.

A zoning metric expressing total building floor area as a ratio of plot size, used to control urban density in municipal land-use plans.

A 50-meter buffer strip along forest boundaries where special building restrictions apply; exemptions require forestry authority approval and a binding opinion.

Formwork is the temporary mould, made from reusable system panels or site-built timber, that holds fresh concrete in shape until it can carry its own weight.

A monolithic reinforced-concrete structure that distributes a building's entire weight evenly across the ground. The foundation system of choice for passive houses and poor soil conditions.

The depth to which soil freezes in winter, determining the minimum foundation depth needed to prevent frost heave and structural damage.

A residential house with a peaked roof formed by two sloping planes meeting at a ridge, offering natural snow shedding, usable attic space, and compliance with Central European building traditions and land-use regulations.

A fully enclosed garage space built into or attached to the main house, functioning as a fire compartment and thermal weak point that requires careful envelope detailing, fire separation, and exhaust ventilation.

A small, typically seasonal structure in a garden designed for relaxation or temporary retreat, often subject to simplified building procedures under Slovakia's 2025 Building Act.

A qualified entity that contracts with a building owner to execute all construction works, manage all trades and subcontractors, and deliver a completed structure compliant with plans and legal standards.

The distinctive spirit or atmosphere of a place—its unique character and identity that architectural design should reveal and reinforce.

A precise measurement of a site's boundaries, topography, and existing features, accounting for Earth's curvature, that establishes the factual foundation for architectural design and permitting.

A systematic investigation of soil, rock, and groundwater conditions at a building site to determine safe foundation design and construction methods.

A single numeric value (in kWh/m² annually) that quantifies the total primary energy consumed by a building, accounting for energy source quality through conversion factors, and used to assign buildings to energy classes A0 through G.

A ratio expressing how much heat a gas traps relative to CO2, used to convert emissions into CO2e.

Engineered timber made by bonding multiple graded boards (lamellae) with grain parallel, producing long structural beams and columns stronger and more dimensionally consistent than sawn wood.

A price support mechanism that supplements market rates for renewable electricity injected into the grid, guaranteeing producers a stable income above wholesale prices for a fixed period. In Slovakia, it combines fixed feed-in tariffs for small installations and auction-based feed-in premiums for larger systems.

Vegetation on a vertical wall surface, either via climbing plants rooted in the ground or modular systems with integrated irrigation.

A network of natural or semi-natural elements, including vegetation and water systems, designed to manage water while providing ecosystem services like improved air quality, habitat, and soil health on residential properties.

A roofing system with layers of vegetation and growing medium that provides thermal insulation, stormwater management, and extends roof lifespan.

The ratio of vegetated land to total plot area, mandated by zoning plans as a minimum requirement for residential and mixed-use developments in Slovakia.

Treating and reusing wastewater from showers and baths for non-potable purposes, kept strictly separate from the potable water supply.

A heat pump that extracts thermal energy from the ground via buried pipes or boreholes, delivering heating and cooling with seasonal efficiency 30-50% higher than air-source alternatives due to stable underground temperatures.

The external drainage of a pitched roof: gutters collect the run-off at the eaves and downpipes carry it to ground, away from the wall and the foundation.

Homogeneous gypsum reinforced with cellulose fibre throughout, offering superior sound performance and direct screw-holding without paper facing.

A controlled ventilation system that recovers heat from exhaust air. The heat exchanger transfers energy from warm stale air to cold fresh air. Modern units achieve 75-95% efficiency. For passive houses, minimum required efficiency is 75%. MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) ensures constant fresh air supply without heat losses.

Replacing an existing fossil-fuel boiler or heating system with a renewable energy source such as a heat pump or biomass boiler to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in residential buildings.

The regional heritage office's statement on whether a proposed intervention is permissible and on what conditions; it binds the building authority and must be obtained before the building intent proceeding can conclude.

A territory declared under Slovakia's Heritage Protection Act because the area itself carries heritage value, so even unlisted buildings inside it need heritage consent for works affecting its character.

A battery system that stores excess electricity generated by solar panels or drawn from the grid, enabling households to use energy when it's most needed and maximize self-consumption of renewable energy.

A dedicated residential spa space (sauna, steam room, or hot tub) that combines high moisture generation with intense heat, requiring specialized vapour control, dedicated extract ventilation, and electrical safety measures to prevent interstitial condensation.

A thermal storage tank on the heating circuit that prevents heat pump short-cycling by absorbing temporary output mismatches.

A residential building constructed on terrain with significant grade change, requiring specialized site preparation, drainage, and foundation design that typically cost 10-20% more than flat-plot equivalents.

The positioning of a building on its site in relation to cardinal directions and the sun's path, affecting natural light, heating, cooling, and livability.

A housing estate of prefab apartments with neighborhood centers, schools and green space. One-third of Slovaks live in sídliská.

Proportioning buildings to match human body dimensions and the distances at which people perceive faces, hear voices, and navigate streets.

A heating system combining an air-source heat pump with a secondary heat source (typically a gas boiler or biomass burner) that automatically switches between them to optimize efficiency and performance across varying outdoor temperatures.

A scientific investigation of groundwater conditions—depth, availability, quality, and flow—conducted before construction to assess site hydrology and inform foundation, drainage, and building system design.

The process of exporting a discipline's BIM model into the open IFC schema, checking what actually transferred, and importing it elsewhere without relying on a shared software licence.

The ability of a floor to limit noise created by the structure being struck directly, by footfall or moved furniture. Measured as L’n,w in decibels, where lower is better.

Detailed technical documentation for actual construction, specifying materials, assembly details, and build sequences. Bridges the gap between design approval and site execution.

An early-stage cost projection prepared during design development, typically ±20–30% accurate, to validate project feasibility and guide budget decisions.

A buildingSMART open standard that expresses BIM requirements as machine-readable rules, replacing prose-based compliance with automated model validation.

Interior acoustic comfort covers two problems: reverberation inside a room, fixed with absorbent surfaces, and sound transmission between rooms, fixed with mass, decoupling and sealed junctions.

The design document fixing fitting positions, layers of light, and colour temperature room by room, resolved before electrical first fix because every fitting is a cable route.

A small, limited set of floor, wall, joinery, and metal finishes, chosen from physical samples and held consistent across every room so a house reads as one design, not six schemes.

Water forming inside a build-up where the temperature falls to the dew point. The criterion is not zero condensation but an annual balance that dries out again.

An investor's initial framing document outlining the concept, financial parameters, and feasibility of a construction project, prepared before formal design and legal approval processes.

A freestanding counter surrounded by walkway, used for food prep or dining. Only feasible in kitchens over 20 m² with 1–1.3 m clearance per side.

Reorganization of fragmented rural parcels into larger, more usable holdings through formal processes governed by Slovak law, often necessary before residential development on rural sites.

The official Slovak title deed proving real estate ownership, recording owner details, property description, and legal encumbrances across three sections (A: property, B: owners, C: burdens). Required for all construction projects and property transactions.

The legal and technical process of dividing one land parcel into two or more smaller parcels, requiring a geometric survey plan, municipal approval, and cadastral registration.

A non-binding planning tool that tests zoning options and sustainable development possibilities before a municipality amends its territorial plan.

The classification label assigned to a specific plot designating permitted, conditional, or prohibited uses under the municipal zoning plan.

A systematic evaluation of distinctive landscape features and regional identity that guides architectural design and permitting decisions in rural and protected scenic areas.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized third-party green building certification system that rates the environmental performance of buildings across sustainability criteria including energy efficiency, water use, materials, and indoor air quality.

Level of Development (LOD) states how far a BIM element may be relied upon at a given stage, from LOD 100 massing to LOD 500 field-verified as-built, distinct from how detailed it looks.

The EU's voluntary framework for assessing and reporting the environmental and sustainability performance of buildings across their entire lifecycle, combining lifecycle assessment with circular economy principles.

A plaster bound with air lime that hardens by carbonation. On older Slovak masonry it is the correct finish because it stays vapour-open, soft and removable.

A building entered in Slovakia's Central Register of the Heritage Fund, which binds every owner to maintain it, to obtain heritage consent before restoring it, and to offer it to the state before any sale.

An ambitious regenerative building certification developed by the International Living Future Institute, requiring projects to generate their own clean energy and water, eliminate toxic materials, and restore habitat—setting the highest ecological and human health standards in green building design.

A wall that carries weight from the roof or floors above and transfers it down through the building to the foundation, distinct from a partition, which carries only itself.

Demolition of a wall that carries structural load from above (roof or floor), requiring a structural engineer's assessment, a replacement beam or lintel, and a written structural certification under Slovakia's Building Act 25/2025 before work can proceed.

A residential dwelling created by converting an industrial or commercial building into an open-plan living space, typically featuring large volumes, high ceilings, and minimal internal partitions.

A building designed and constructed to minimize greenhouse-gas emissions across its entire lifecycle—from material extraction and manufacturing through operation and eventual demolition.

A residential building designed and built to consume roughly half the energy of conventional houses through high insulation, efficient systems, and controlled ventilation, typically using 20–50 kWh/m² per year for heating.

A design approach that manages stormwater by keeping rainfall where it falls, using techniques like permeable surfaces and infiltration to reduce runoff and protect water quality.

A heating system delivering water at lower flow temperatures to raise the efficiency of modern heat sources, at the cost of larger emitter surfaces.

A multi-level residential unit within a larger building where a single dwelling spans two or more floors, combining apartment efficiency with house-like vertical living.

A documented inventory of a building's materials, composition, and location, enabling recovery and reuse at end-of-life rather than landfill.

A residential energy system that generates both electricity and heat simultaneously from a single fuel source, achieving 75–85% overall efficiency while reducing reliance on grid power and conventional boilers.

Non-combustible fibrous insulation spun from glass or rock melt, with a conductivity of roughly 0.032 to 0.045 W/(m·K) and reaction to fire class A1.

The EU-mandated minimum energy efficiency standard that all new buildings must meet, defined as the cost-optimal level at which operational energy costs are minimised over the building's lifecycle.

An EU regulatory instrument that requires owners of worst-performing existing buildings to meet energy efficiency thresholds by specified deadlines, driving progressive renovation of the building stock toward decarbonisation.

A small single-story building up to 50 m² and 5 m high that can be constructed with only a notification to the building authority instead of a full building permit, under Slovakia's Building Act 25/2025.

A simplified authorization procedure under Slovakia's Building Act 25/2025 for small buildings (up to 50 m²), requiring notification to the building authority instead of full Building Intent proceedings; approval is presumed if the authority does not respond within 30 days.

A residential building with a single sloping roof plane that can be oriented to maximize solar gains or satisfy pitched-roof regulations while creating asymmetric interior volumes and contemporary aesthetics.

A reinforced-concrete slab cast in place as a continuous unit, creating moment continuity and allowing thinner, longer spans than precast systems.

A single building containing separate dwelling units for multiple generations (typically parents and adult children with their families), designed with independent entrances, utility metering, acoustic isolation, and barrier-free access for aging residents.

A binding statutory planning document that designates how each part of a municipality's territory may be used—residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational—and establishes rules for construction.

A municipality's statutory right to purchase land at the offered price before any third party, typically triggered when building plots within zoned areas change hands. Rarely enforced in practice.

Solid wood panel made by stacking dimensional lumber boards face-to-face and fastening them with nails, creating one-way spanning panels with no adhesive.

Establishing plant species adapted to a site's regional climate and soil, cutting maintenance and irrigation while supporting local pollinators.

A building with very high energy performance and minimal energy needs, with most or all of its required energy covered by renewable sources produced on-site or nearby, mandated by EU law for all new buildings since 2021.

A written agreement from adjacent property owners accepting a building project; not mandatory under Slovak law 25/2025 if the design complies with legal requirements.

A billing mechanism that allows residential prosumers with solar PV systems to offset their grid electricity consumption with surplus electricity they generate and feed back to the grid, using a bidirectional meter to track net energy flow.

A building designed so total greenhouse gas emissions across its entire lifecycle—from construction through operations to end-of-life—amount to zero or are offset through renewable energy and carbon removal projects.

The part of a residential layout dedicated to sleep and rest, typically comprising bedrooms and bathrooms, designed for acoustic separation from day-zone activities and optimized for thermal comfort and good air quality during sleeping hours.

An expert acoustic assessment required for residential building permits when a site is exposed to transportation noise from roads or railways, evaluating predicted sound levels against permissible limits set by Slovak legislation.

A wall that divides space and carries only its own weight and fixings, not structural load, yet still has to separate sound, take fixings, host services and tolerate the structure's movement.

Post-1968 Czechoslovak architecture defined by state control and mass prefab housing. Panel estates now face the region's largest renovation challenge.

A formal written challenge filed by an affected neighbor or party during building proceedings to raise concerns about a proposed project before a final decision is made.

A Slovak government subsidy programme providing up to €11,000 per family home for energy-efficiency renovations, targeting households threatened by energy poverty with no energy certificate requirement.

Occupancy approval is the final decision by the building authority permitting use of a completed structure for its intended purpose. It certifies that the building complies with all applicable regulations and is safe for occupancy.

A historical occupancy permit document under Slovakia's old Building Act (50/1976), now replaced by the certificate of fulfillment of building purpose under the 2025 Act. It was the formal decision authorizing a completed building's use for its intended purpose.

An open-plan layout merges kitchen, dining, and living spaces into a single, uninterrupted volume—requiring structural, acoustic, thermal, and ventilation strategies to manage sound, smell, and comfort zones.

A collaborative BIM approach using open, non-proprietary standards like IFC to allow seamless data exchange between different software tools and project participants, regardless of authoring platform.

A structural wood-based panel made from oriented strands bonded under pressure, widely used as sheathing and air barriers in timber frame construction.

Construction method where the property owner directly manages and executes building work, permitted for minor structures under Slovak Act 25/2025, with defined supervision and significant legal liability.

A panel building system is a prefabricated construction method using factory-made reinforced concrete wall and floor panels that are assembled on-site to form the structural skeleton of a building. This method was widely adopted across Czechoslovakia from the 1950s onwards.

A panelák is a large apartment building constructed from prefabricated, pre-stressed concrete panels. These iconic housing estates emerged in Czechoslovakia between 1959 and 1995 as a rapid, cost-effective solution to post-war housing shortages.

A dedicated storage room adjoining the kitchen for dry goods, provisions, and kitchenware, traditionally sited on the north side to maintain cool temperatures with minimal mechanical conditioning.

Mandatory minimum parking space requirements per dwelling unit, typically 1–2.5 spaces depending on apartment size and local transit accessibility, regulated by STN 73 6110 and municipal zoning plans in Slovakia.

A method of involving residents in shaping land-use decisions before proposals are finalized, distinct from statutory consultation which presents fixed plans.

A person or entity with legal standing to participate and object in building permit proceedings. Under Act 25/2025, only those objectively directly affected in their rights qualify.

A building standard for structures with very low heating energy requirements (≤ 15 kWh/m²/year). A passive house achieves this through a combination of excellent thermal insulation, elimination of thermal bridges, airtightness, heat recovery ventilation, and optimal utilization of solar gains. Certification is granted by the Passive House Institute in Darmstadt.

Three certification tiers for Passive House buildings defined by their combined efficiency level and renewable energy generation capacity, ranging from Classic (efficiency only) to Premium (net-positive energy generation).

Architectural strategy that uses building orientation, glazing placement, thermal mass, and shading to capture winter solar heat and reject summer solar gain, reducing mechanical heating and cooling needs.

A heating system that burns compressed wood pellets (small cylindrical fuel units) to generate warmth for space heating and hot water. Pellet boilers automate fuel feeding and combustion control, offering a renewable alternative to fossil-fuel boilers in residential settings.

Permeable surfaces that allow water infiltration, reducing runoff and enabling you to meet land-coverage limits.

The timeframe between when a building intent decision becomes legally binding and when construction must begin; typically two years under Slovak law (25/2025 Z.z.).

A preliminary cost calculation prepared to support building permit applications, demonstrating project feasibility to authorities and lenders before detailed design is complete.

A design philosophy holding that buildings are known through lived sensory experience rather than through plans or images alone.

A device that converts sunlight directly into electrical current using semiconductor materials; a fundamental component in residential renewable energy systems.

An official document issued by a municipality summarizing land-use regulations and development permissions for a specific property under the municipal zoning plan.

A building that produces more energy from renewable sources annually than it consumes from the grid, achieving net energy surplus through efficient design and integrated generation systems.

Scan-to-BIM turns laser-scanned or photogrammetric measurements of an existing building into a coordinated BIM model, capturing its true geometry before a renovation with no reliable drawings.

A long-term contract between an electricity producer and consumer that locks in a fixed or indexed electricity price, typically for 10-25 years, providing price certainty and guaranteed renewable energy supply.

The milestone when construction work is physically finished and the building is substantially ready for occupancy, preceding the mandatory fitness review by the building authority.

An informal early-stage discussion with the building authority before submitting formal project documentation, used to clarify requirements and identify potential regulatory obstacles to a design.

The foundational phase before architectural design begins where client expectations are clarified, site constraints assessed, and feasibility verified through surveys and research.

The systematic investigation and risk assessment of a building site before purchase, verifying legal ownership, buildability, environmental safety, utility access, and neighbor constraints to confirm feasibility before commissioning architecture.

The total energy extracted from nature before processing and delivery, calculated by multiplying delivered energy by a primary energy factor. It's the headline metric for Slovak building energy certification.

Standardized rules that define how environmental impact data must be collected, modeled, and reported for products in a specific category, ensuring comparable Environmental Product Declarations.

A mandatory technical document that quantifies the expected energy performance of a building or renovation project, demonstrating compliance with Slovak and EU energy efficiency standards.

A legally defined buffer area around infrastructure or monuments where construction is restricted to protect public interests and operational safety.

The spatial strategy of organizing a residential plot into public, private, and service zones, with the street-facing side for arrival and services, and the rear for intimate garden space protected from view.

A binding statement from the regional public health authority (RÚVZ) confirming that a building project complies with health and hygiene standards and is safe for occupancy.

A building or infrastructure designated in approved spatial planning documentation as essential for territorial development or environmental protection; the legal basis for expropriation of land.

A heating system delivering warmth through floor pipes at low temperature (35°C), ideal for heat pumps and continuously heated homes.

A gas-impermeable layer installed below foundation slabs to prevent radon diffusion from soil into buildings, required in radon-risk zones.

A soil gas measurement performed during site assessment to evaluate radon risk and determine foundation protection requirements before construction in Slovakia.

A legally defined buffer area along railway infrastructure where construction and certain activities are restricted to protect operational safety and public welfare. In Slovakia, the standard distance is 60 meters from the outer rail axis.

A shallow planted depression that captures roof or driveway runoff, letting water infiltrate soil and recharge groundwater rather than flow to a sewer.

The outer cladding layer in a rainscreen facade system, separated from the building envelope by a continuous, ventilated air cavity that drains water and allows moisture to evaporate.

A storage tank that collects and holds rainwater runoff from roofs and other surfaces for residential irrigation, toilet flushing, and other non-potable uses.

A water management system that captures, filters, and stores rainfall from roofs and surfaces for reuse in irrigation, toilet flushing, and washing, reducing mains water consumption and flood risk in residential buildings.

On-site storage that slows stormwater release and allows infiltration, reducing peak load on public sewers; increasingly required by Slovak zoning.

The authoritative public register in Slovakia containing geometric descriptions, inventory, and ownership records of all real properties and associated rights.

Salvaged building materials reused in their original form, retaining embodied carbon and avoiding reprocessing energy, as an alternative to new production.

Slovakia's €6.4 billion EU-funded programme of reforms and investments (2021–2026) supporting green renovation, renewable energy, and climate resilience in residential and commercial buildings.

A recreational structure for seasonal or intermittent use, legally distinct from a residential dwelling in Slovak building law, requiring frost protection and special utility design to accommodate discontinuous habitation.

A standardized EU methodology for defining representative buildings that establish benchmarks for minimum energy performance requirements and cost-optimal renovation measures.

A binding territorial planning document adopted by a Higher Territorial Unit that establishes the spatial arrangement, development structure, and regulatory framework for land use across an entire region in Slovakia.

A binding zone-level planning instrument specifying built-form rules—placement, spacing, setbacks, and land use—for regulated areas in Slovak municipalities.

Steel bars embedded in concrete to carry the tension concrete cannot resist on its own; diameter, spacing, cover and lap position are calculated, not site improvisation.

A legal entity owned collectively by citizens, businesses, or local authorities that produces, consumes, stores, and shares renewable energy to benefit members and reduce reliance on grid-supplied electricity.

A Renewable Energy Source (RES) is any non-fossil energy that naturally replenishes itself during use—such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or biomass—providing sustainable alternatives to depleting conventional fuels.

The percentage of a building's total energy consumption sourced from renewable energy, including solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal; mandatory since 2022 under EU and Slovak building performance standards.

The European Union's strategy to double the annual building renovation rate by 2030, reducing GHG emissions from buildings by 60% while addressing energy poverty through coordinated national programmes like Slovakia's Obnov Dom.

A building or engineering structure that is technologically demanding or structurally unusual, requiring increased coordination, certified professionals, and stricter oversight under Slovakia's 2025 Building Act.

A structure that resists lateral earth pressure to hold back soil on sloped sites, where inadequate drainage causes most failures.

The final inspection and verification process confirming that a completed building meets approved designs, applicable regulations, and is fit for its intended use, replacing the old kolaudácia under Slovakia's 2025 Building Act.

A legal right allowing someone to pass through or access another person's property to reach their own building or land, typically recorded in the land registry.

Continuous reinforced concrete band at each floor level that ties masonry walls together and resists lateral forces and differential settlement.

A legally defined setback area measured from the axis of a road or highway where construction requiring a building permit is prohibited, designed to protect traffic safety and road infrastructure outside continuously built-up areas.

How sound behaves inside a space: reverberation, absorption by surfaces, and speech intelligibility. Fixed with absorbent materials, not structural mass.

Heat pump efficiency averaged over an entire heating season—accounting for real-world temperature swings and part loads, and more realistic than peak COP for predicting annual costs.

A geographic region classified by earthquake risk level, defining design ground acceleration and structural requirements under Eurocode 8. Slovakia's western zones (Žilina, Komárno) have elevated seismic hazard requiring enhanced design measures.

The share of electricity generated by an on-site photovoltaic system that is consumed directly by the building, rather than exported to the grid. Higher self-consumption ratios reduce grid dependency and energy costs.

Two identical or mirror-image residential units sharing a common wall, with each unit typically having separate entrances, gardens, and legal ownership.

The emotional and social meaning inhabitants invest in a location through dwelling; the experienced quality of belonging that transforms space into valued home.

Minimum distance from a building to a property boundary or street, protecting fire safety, daylight, privacy, and maintenance access.

A foundation system transmitting building load to ground at shallow depth. The standard choice for most residential buildings on competent soil.

A vertical structural wall that resists horizontal forces from wind and seismic activity, transferring lateral loads down to the foundation.

The systematic investigation and evaluation of a building site's physical, environmental, legal, and contextual characteristics before design begins, translating constraints into opportunities.

The formal, documented transfer of a construction site from the employer to the contractor, marking the legal start of construction work and establishing responsibility for site management.

A contractor-appointed professional responsible for organizing, directing, and controlling daily construction work and maintaining the construction diary on-site, appointed under Slovak Building Act 25/2025.

A scaled bird's-eye view drawing showing how a building sits on its plot, including property boundaries, setback distances, utility connections, and site features—the foundational document for all building projects.

The architect's first exploratory walkthrough of a building site with the client, conducted early to observe sensory qualities, understand constraints, and establish design direction before detailed site analysis begins.

A structural system where columns and beams carry all loads, while walls and facades become non-structural infill that can be repositioned or removed.

A 1–10 kW wind turbine for residential use that generates household electricity, eligible for Slovak green subsidies and works well paired with solar panels.

Czechoslovak modernism (1956–1968) emphasizing structural expression, exposed concrete, and integrated public art within centrally planned constraints.

The maximum pressure a soil can safely support without settlement or failure, determined by site investigation and used to design foundations.

The compass direction a building faces, determining winter solar gain and summer heat rejection. The highest-leverage design decision available.

Window transmittance for solar radiation (0-1 scale), beneficial for south-facing winter heating but problematic for west-facing summer cooling without shading.

The solar energy quantity entering a building (kWh/m2a). A credit to heating in winter, but a cooling load if it arrives when heating is not needed.

The unobstructed horizontal distance between supports of a beam, slab, or truss. Span is the primary driver of structural member size and cost in residential construction.

Slovakia's spatial planning legislation (Act 200/2022 Z. z.) establishing the framework for coordinated territorial development, land-use designations, and zoning that guide construction permits and building design approval.

The rate of heat loss through a building envelope per reference area and per kelvin of temperature difference, measured in W/(m2.K).

Annual primary energy required per square meter of building floor area, measured in kWh/(m²·year). Used to classify building energy performance and determine compliance with EU energy standards.

A residential house with floors staggered at half-level intervals, using short stairs to transition between zones. Ideally suited to sloped sites, offering spatial separation and structural efficiency but requiring careful accessibility planning.

A phased approach to deep renovation that spreads energy-efficiency improvements over multiple years, prioritizing envelope and air-sealing work before mechanical system upgrades to avoid lock-in mistakes and reduce upfront costs.

A sheet-metal roof of narrow bays joined by a folded, mechanically closed seam. A double-lock seam works from about 3 degrees of pitch.

The legal and practical milestone when a builder commences physical work on site, triggered only after obtaining an inspection certificate and marking the beginning of the construction period in which the permit remains valid.

Slovakia's national technical standard establishing thermotechnical requirements for building envelopes, component thermal resistance, and energy efficiency to ensure heat retention and reduced energy consumption in new and renovated buildings.

A continuous concrete footing beneath load-bearing walls that spreads line load into the ground. The traditional foundation type for masonry houses.

A written report by a qualified structural engineer certifying that proposed work on load-bearing elements is technically safe and feasible, typically required before structural alterations or changes affecting building loads.

A reinforced concrete tube, wrapped around stairs and lifts, that resists wind and seismic lateral forces in buildings.

A legal procedure under Slovakia's Building Act 25/2025 for authorizing modifications to existing buildings that do not substantially change the structure; renovation clients may use simplified notification (30-day review) or require formal permit proceedings depending on the scope and impact of the work.

A licensed professional who designs, analyzes, and assesses building structures to ensure they safely resist all loads. In Slovakia, structural engineers hold formal qualifications and professional registration, producing structural plans, calculations, and site supervision for new construction and renovation projects.

The risk that indoor temperature climbs beyond a tolerable level in summer because solar gains exceed the building’s ability to shed heat.

A technical assessment measuring daylight and sunlight access to ensure residential buildings comply with building standards and provide adequate natural light.

A regulatory mechanism allowing residential photovoltaic owners to sell excess electricity generated above their own consumption back to the grid at a predetermined rate.

Drainage methods that capture and filter rainfall on-site, mimicking natural processes to manage runoff and reduce flooding while recharging groundwater.

Independent third-party verification that timber originates from responsibly managed forests, meeting strict environmental, social, and economic standards through FSC or PEFC certification schemes.

A building constructed for a limited, predetermined duration and specified in the building authority's decision; must be removed or revalidated upon expiration. Governed by Slovakia's Act 25/2025.

An attached residential dwelling sharing structural walls with neighboring units in a continuous row, optimizing land use and reducing thermal losses through shared boundaries.

An area in the building envelope with significantly higher heat transfer than surrounding constructions. Thermal bridges occur at construction junctions (e.g., wall-ceiling connections), penetrations through insulation (anchors, brackets), or at building corners. They cause increased heat loss and moisture condensation risk.

Thermal satisfaction determined by six factors: air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air velocity, humidity, clothing, and metabolic rate.

The ability of building materials to absorb, store, and release heat energy, moderating indoor temperature fluctuations and improving thermal comfort in residences.

A design strategy that groups rooms by heating needs, allowing each zone to maintain its own setpoint and reducing energy use.

Transition zone between public and private space, marked by layered devices and sensory shifts that slow arrival and enable psychological decompression.

Boards or battens hung on a ventilated substructure as the weather-facing skin of a facade. Larch is the usual Slovak choice, and greying is normal.

A load-bearing timber frame with the insulation inside the structural depth, so a thin wall reaches a low U-value with no wet trades on site.

A scaled technical drawing showing terrain elevation, existing features, and utilities—the foundational input document architects require for responsive design.

An official statement from the traffic authority confirming that a proposed driveway or building access meets safety and traffic flow requirements for connection to a public road.

Written authorization from the nature protection authority required before felling trees on Slovak land, determined by trunk circumference, location, and protected status of the site.

A window glazing assembly with three panes of glass separated by two insulating gas-filled gaps, delivering significantly better thermal insulation and noise reduction than double glazing.

A residential house with two stacked floors, using less land and energy than bungalows but requiring planning for accessibility.

The umbrella professional discipline covering all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in a building (heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, drainage, electricity, fire safety). Each subsystem is designed by specialized engineers and must be coordinated with the architectural design from the earliest stages.

A measure of heat flow through a construction element per unit temperature difference. Expressed in W/(m²·K). The lower the value, the better the insulation properties. For passive houses, required values are: walls U ≤ 0.15 W/(m²·K), roofs U ≤ 0.10 W/(m²·K), windows Uw ≤ 0.80 W/(m²·K).

Flooring materials and finishes compatible with radiant heating systems, selected based on thermal conductivity and maximum thermal resistance of 0.15 m²K/W to ensure efficient heat transfer and material stability.

A site lying above underground mining operations where subsurface extraction creates risk of ground settlement, differential movement, and structural damage, requiring specialized geotechnical assessment and foundation design.

The physical pattern of a settlement formed by how streets, blocks, plots and buildings fit together to create coherent neighborhoods.

Cities are warmer than surrounding countryside due to dark surfaces, sealed ground, and removed vegetation. Effect peaks at night.

Building on vacant, underused, or fragmented parcels within established urban areas to consolidate urban fabric, increase residential density, and reuse existing infrastructure.

The study of how settlement form evolves over time, reading a place history from its street, plot and building structure.

Slovakia's central digital platform launched in 2024 for submitting, tracking, and managing all building permits, territorial decisions, and construction documentation through unified online proceedings.

A binding legal contract between a property owner and a utility operator (electricity, gas, water) that specifies the technical terms, timeline, and costs for connecting a building plot to public infrastructure networks.

The physical hookups connecting a building plot to public infrastructure networks (water, sewer, electricity, gas). Required before construction and a major cost factor in residential development.

A practical approval or informational statement issued by utility operators (electricity, gas, water, telecommunications) confirming feasibility of connections and stating conditions for construction work near their infrastructure.

A dedicated mechanical space in a residential building that houses heating, cooling, ventilation, water, and electrical systems. Essential for modern energy-efficient homes, particularly those with heat pumps and controlled ventilation.

A legally defined buffer zone surrounding gas, electricity, water, and sewer infrastructure where construction and excavation are restricted or prohibited.

A layer on the warm side of the insulation that all but stops vapour diffusing into the build-up. A true barrier starts at an equivalent air-layer thickness of 100 m.

A layer that slows vapour diffusion instead of stopping it, so the build-up keeps a drying reserve. Smart versions change their resistance with humidity.

A build-up whose layers become progressively more permeable towards the outside, so moisture that gets in can dry out. It is not a breathing wall.

The design phase where an architect explores 2–3 concept directions before committing to a single design direction, using sketches, models, and renderings to help clients understand spatial options and make informed decisions.

An insulated wall in which the cladding hangs on a substructure, separated from the insulation by a clear ventilated cavity of roughly 25 to 40 mm.

Building traditions shaped by local climate, available materials, and craft practices, developed without formal architectural training. Vernacular architecture solves practical problems through generations of inherited knowledge, creating regionally distinctive forms that respond authentically to their environment.

Waterproofing of basement and below-grade walls, the most expensive building defect to remedy after it fails.

A legally binding priority sequence for waste management: prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, energy recovery, and disposal.

A heat pump system that extracts thermal energy from a body of water—groundwater, surface water, or a closed-loop underground circulation—to provide heating and cooling for residential buildings.

A performance-based certification system that measures and certifies buildings for human health and wellness, complementing energy and environmental standards like LEED and BREEAM.

The total greenhouse gas emissions from a building across its entire lifecycle, combining embodied carbon (materials and construction) with operational carbon (energy use during occupancy).

A landscape pathway enabling animals to move between isolated habitat patches, maintaining genetic exchange and reducing species loss from fragmentation.

A sheltered outdoor entrance threshold that reduces wind-driven air infiltration and heat loss at the building perimeter, distinct from an enclosed mudroom by remaining semi-open to outside air.

The percentage of a facade that is glazed. WWR trades off heating, cooling, daylight and view, and the right answer depends on orientation.

A glazed transitional space that may function as a thermal buffer zone (if unheated) or as an additional living room (if heated). The distinction determines whether it reduces or increases household energy consumption.

Thermal insulation made from wood fibres, supplied as flexible batts or rigid boards. Its strengths are summer stability in a loft and low embodied carbon.

Design method for gardens that thrive on regional rainfall using plant zoning, mulch, efficient irrigation, and reduced turf to minimise supplemental watering.

A Slovak state subsidy programme administered by SIEA that covers up to 50% of costs for installing renewable energy and heat-pump systems in residential homes.

A highly insulated residential building that produces as much renewable energy annually as it consumes from the grid, achieving zero net energy over one year.

A detailed spatial planning document that establishes site-specific regulations for land use, building density, infrastructure, and environmental protection within a defined zone of a municipality, implementing the municipal plan at parcel level.

The mechanism by which territory is divided into functional zones with binding rules governing what land uses are permitted, conditional, or prohibited.

Legacy documentation required under Slovakia's 1976 Building Act for territorial decisions on site placement and utility connections; replaced by Building Intent under Act 25/2025 effective April 2025.

An official revision to a municipal land-use plan that changes the designated function or building parameters of a specific site, enacted through municipal council approval and public consultation.

The formal administrative decision issued under Slovakia's 1976 Building Act determining whether a proposed building's location, use, and site characteristics comply with territorial planning; legally replaced by the Building Intent Decision (rozhodnutie o stavebnom zámere) since April 2025.