Old mill area

This work is the reconstruction of about 200 – 250 years old water mill – house and its surrounding located in the south part of Slovakia, in the small village called Branc, near the city Nitra.

What about the exterior, the house is located at the end of the street and the wide area around it sufficiently divides the house from the neighbourhouses in the South-west side. North-east part of the area is oriented to the fields. The house is not visible at all from the street because of the wall and small buildings in front of the house which function as the garage, toolhouse and stock. They create a small passage to the house, which is placed in the crater so it is neccessary to go downstairs. These outside stairs are enough wide and were made 3 years ago but were proposed to remain the old feeling.

The house represents a typical industrial architecture which was rebuilt into a new living unit.
As the object was really old, it was neccessary to reinstall the electricity, canalization, water gas, etc. It is a 3-floor building and the living units are divided into the entrance hall, kitchen, dining part, bathroom, stockroom and terrace which create the groundfloor.
The first floor is dedicated for whole-day activities, as it represents the main part of the house – the living room with library and homey fireplace. Two smaller rooms on this floor serve as the workroom and closet.
The last, second floor can be called „the night part“. 4 bedrooms and big bathroom are situated here.

Desig concept of the reconstruction consists on the connection of the historical units of the building with the new architectural components. By this reconstruction the object did not loose its typical industrial caracter, many original elements remained, especially inside. As the example one can find there the original wood construction of columns and carlings, framework, wood floor and one round window which functioned as the afflux of the water. These old components were completed by the elements of new architecture as for example new metal stairs, modern kitchen, etc. As the water around the mill has dried up many years ago, the main thing which can assure that this building served many years as the water – mill and the flour was produced here is the original flour grader which is placed in the living room and symbolizes the past function of this house..
These days the theme of the industrial architecture is really often discussed in our country, because in the last years the developers have destroyed many areas of a „brown fields“.
The Old mill area represents one of the examples how to use the objects of industrial architecture for a new function.