Located in the Czech Republic, the newly constructed Diorit residential building by Architekti DRNH stands on the site of a former quarry between the Brno districts of Komín and Bystrc. Over the decades, nature gradually reclaimed the industrial landscape, forming a rare ecosystem of flora and fauna. Recognizing its ecological value, the architects designed a project that restores the site while preserving its biodiversity.
Named after the mineral once extracted here, Residence Diorit demonstrates how brownfield regeneration can prevent urban sprawl and promote sustainable urban living by converting an abandoned quarry into a functional, ecologically integrated community.
Integration with the terrain
Set within steep, varied topography, the building adapts to the quarry’s contours. The street-facing volume shields the site from noise, while the courtyard steps along the quarry walls in a series of terraces that mirror the natural terrain.
Natural plaster tones, milky glass profiles, and vegetation integrate the architecture into its reclaimed setting. Existing greenery was preserved wherever possible, supplemented with new plantings to enhance biodiversity and create habitats for birds, insects, and small mammals.
Typology and structure
The development accommodates a range of residential units—from studio apartments to four-room dwellings—most oriented toward the central park and terraces. End units enjoy expansive roof terraces with views over the Svratka Valley. Shared amenities include a reception, services, and ground-floor commercial spaces.
The structure combines reinforced concrete walls, sand-lime blocks, and monolithic ceilings. In the underground garage, a concrete frame reveals the natural rock wall. Glazed corridors double as acoustic buffers, shielding residents from the adjacent road.
Energy efficiency
Residence Diorit holds an Energy Performance Certificate Class A for exceptional efficiency, with a primary energy value of 50 kWh/(m²·year). High-performance insulation, airtight glazing, and heat-recovery ventilation ensure consistent indoor comfort and minimal energy loss.
A Loxone automation system monitors and optimizes heating, cooling, shading, and ventilation according to occupancy and weather data. Integrated sensors enable residents to manage comfort and energy use while reducing operational emissions. The system is compatible with Loxone Wallboxes, supporting electric vehicle and e-bike charging.
Material sustainability
The project integrates circular principles through recycled and low-impact materials. Recycled aggregate from the quarry and Isover mineral wool—made from metallurgical by-products—were used in the facade, floors, and ceilings.
Load-bearing walls of low-impact Silka calcium-silicate blocks provide acoustic insulation and high thermal mass.
Bio-based Wineo PURLINE 1500 flooring, made from castor oil and minerals, contains no PVC or VOCs and enhances indoor air quality.
Water management and microclimate
Covering an area of 19,100 square meters, the site handles roughly 1,270 cubic meters of runoff during a ten-year storm event. With no municipal stormwater connection, a closed-loop rainwater management strategy was implemented.
Over 5,000 square meters of green roofs capture and gradually release rainwater, cooling the building and maintaining humidity. The system includes three interconnected storage tanks: two concrete tanks, each with a capacity of thirty-three cubic meters, and one polypropylene tank with an eighteen-cubic-meter capacity.
These tanks hold excess rainwater for use in irrigating the landscape. Additionally, a controlled overflow system allows 19.1 liters per second of water to be discharged into the Svratka River.
The system includes multi-level drainage, vortex regulation, and regular maintenance protocols. This approach ensures ecological resilience while maintaining on-site water balance and supporting vegetation growth.
Circular economy and adaptability
Revitalizing a former quarry and landfill, the project exemplifies circular design. The architectural concept follows sustainable design principles, selecting materials and systems for performance, comfort, and reuse potential while minimizing environmental impact throughout the building’s life cycle. Load-bearing walls and service cores define the structure, while prefabricated plasterboard partitions allow flexible reconfiguration over time.
Ecology and biodiversity
Collaborating with landscape architects, the team preserved the quarry’s rock faces, plateaus, and native vegetation, integrating local stone and plant communities. Some areas remain inaccessible, maintaining habitats for endemic flora and fauna.
Vegetation mitigates summer heat and enhances air humidity, creating a stable ecosystem supporting birds, insects, amphibians, and small mammals. The result reinforces the ecological value of the reclaimed site.
