On the Slovak architectural scene, we have been meeting architect Pavol Pokorný and his work for two decades. Many will probably be surprised by the statement that when creating buildings that catch the eye of passers-by with the fascinating purity of shapes, lines and details, the architect's ambition is not to achieve a formally perfect architectural exhibition, but rather to strive for a realistically achievable harmony between the technical and aesthetic parameters of the building work.

Starting in 2008, Pavol Pokorný decided to design exclusively houses in low-energy and passive standards. As he himself states, he was led to this by curiosity and the search for his own path in exploring the answer to the question: is it possible to achieve that houses of this type are also visually attractive? Unlike many colleagues who have accepted the requirements for energy efficiency of buildings as a limitation of creative possibilities, Pavol Pokorný shows with each new building how to use a seeming obstacle to create better and more meaningful architecture.

What others still consider limiting, he capitalizes on as inspiring, motivating, enriching. It seems that it is from this aspect that his realizations in recent years have gained value, dynamism and quality. Exploring a new design principle gives his works new dimensions – hidden and visible at the same time. At first glance, his latest works may seem like objects reduced to the simplest volumes and shapes, confidently defining the space around and within them. Upon closer examination of their complex parameters, from layout to structural design to operational attributes, a surprising, complex quality emerges that fundamentally changes perception and – awe-inspiring.