Ikony.tv

The Challenge

Ikony is a documentary series about post-war modernist architecture in Slovakia — a body of work that is world-class by any measure, but largely dismissed by the public because of its association with the communist era. Each episode of the TV series tells the story of a different architect. Each was directed by a different filmmaker with a different crew and a different creative vision. The project was produced by Archtung, a remarkable NGO founded by architecture students, in partnership with Slovak public television.

Our task was to create "episode zero" — a standalone web documentary that would introduce the broader story before viewers dove into individual episodes. Not a companion site. Not a landing page. A complete work in its own right: part archive, part interactive essay, part visual experience.

Our Approach

We were involved from creative concept through to final execution. Working alongside an architectural theorist, we developed the dramaturgy — deciding how to structure the narrative, what to reveal and when, how to balance text, archival footage, photography, and interactive elements into something that felt whole.

The visual concept is built on a deliberate constraint: the entire site lives in shades of grey. Each chapter shifts to a different grey tone — "The Shades of Grey" as both title and organising principle. Accent colours were drawn from the limited palette that was actually available to architects of that era, adding historical authenticity to every design decision.

We spent significant time in archives, sourcing original footage and photographs. The site features interactive quizzes answered by archival film clips, full episode viewing, architectural photography, and layered content that rewards exploration. It's not a website — it's what we call a Gesamtkunstwerk: a total work.

The Result

Ikony.tv won an Awwwards Honorable Mention and a Slovak Design Award in 2022 — recognition that validated the ambition of the project. More importantly, it brought Slovak post-war modernist architecture to both local and international audiences in a format that made the subject accessible, engaging, and emotionally resonant.

The web documentary remains unmatched in the Slovak digital landscape. It serves as both a cultural resource and an archive for the TV series, ensuring that this overlooked chapter of European architectural history has a permanent digital home.