Otherwise, they do not open the windows to prevent the intrusion of flies, of which there are many around the pastures in the summer (they did not want insect nets for aesthetic reasons). | photo: Martin Zeman, datelier.cz
The land is located in a small village with a relatively well-preserved historical character, located in a relatively original landscape, where any construction inappropriateness would be not only striking, but also disrespectful to the place.
Already "between the gates" it is clear that both the team of architects and the owners of the house wanted safe shelter, a wide view, sufficient overview, a quiet place in the sun, mature vegetation, rest in the shade, garden, orchard, greenhouse and pond and stream. And all this is fulfilled by the new home. A bonus is the bench at the entrance overlooking the gate and the house behind.
Whether the house looks modernist or a refined remodel of a traditional country building, it cannot be denied a distinctive character. His long body stays close to the ground (he is on the edge of the village) and does not resist the sensual landscape with his natural colors or material.
The architects have created a discreet concept in the sloping plot, which does not disturb the natural panorama or be visible from the public road. The artistically mastered material abstracts to the subtle elegance of an unpretentious building, where, despite the creative details, it is obvious not to be humble.
Transparency and openness is the mainstay and filling aspect of the interior. However, this is not an empty space syndrome, as we see it in some new buildings, where the inhabitants of the house could not, did not manage or did not want to work with the space.
David and Eve's house is inhabited. However, not as a result of the accumulation of elements of equipment and decorations over time, but evidently as a result of design work from the very beginning, perhaps even before it was dug into the ground.
With the company and self-help
Rough construction - perimeter walls and roof was performed by the supplier's company. Everything else, including the facade, insulation, wiring, hole fillings and interiors, was arranged by the owner as a subcontractor or self-help. As he says, not everything is ideal.
For example, the facade of the garden house shows that it was made by a professional, while the larch facade on the house (irregular width of the boards is intentional) was created under the hands of the owner and he would do something different on it today, for example he would not paint the wood.
The professional also signed under a natural lake, on which swallows teach the young to drink in flight. The garden house with a sauna, as well as a covered parking space, has an extensive vegetation roof due to its better connection with nature. Behind the house is a greenhouse and orchards nearby, thanks to which the family has organic fruit and vegetables on the table. All they miss is a cellar.
Questions for architect Irena Truhlářová from the ARCHCON studio
What were the intentions of the design?
The visual guide for the design was the implementation of modern "barns" with open trusses and large glass gables. Our task was to place such a house on a land sloping to the northeast and wonderful views of the open countryside.
In the first variants, we tried to divide the house into smaller masses and copy the morphology of the terrain. However, the rugged floor plan did not suit the family, so we gradually arrived at a compact mass divided only by a sunken terrace and highlighted by the advanced "observable" daughter's room.
We struggled a bit with the settlement of the house in the terrain, because it was difficult for investors for a long time to imagine that the landscaping will be so significant. In my opinion, however, they are made very sensitively and the house seamlessly connects to the landscape.
Did feng shui philosophy speak to the house?
Yes and significantly. Thanks to the spacious plot and non-binding regulations, we were able to turn the house so that its Flying Star came out as the so-called Happy Castle. In this way, our specialist Tereza and I gave the house the best energy and security. Of course, we verified the location during the study by joint demarcation on the plot to compare the calculations with reality.
Another significant topic was the treatment of "shots". This is where the feelings of architects and feng shui go against each other - we like axes and vistas, but we don't realize that the energy that comes into the house escapes very quickly. We solved this problem mainly in the view that runs from the entrance, through the hall to the entrance to the terrace.
What do you consider particularly worthy of attention?
During the design, we gradually deviated from the open truss solution. We tried to create a slightly "more cozy space" and structurally we wanted to go to the truss roof. In our realizations, together with the owners, we researched which elements create the impression of airiness and at the same time coziness.
We have thus reached the use of subtle aluminum windows for the entire height of the room of 2,8 meters in combination with a cedar ceiling. Equally subtle doors are a perfect complement to this principle.
An unusual element of the interior is sage green. It first appeared on the dresser that the owners bought during the design, then it was reflected in the design of the kitchen, and finally it was also heard on the front door, where it contrasts very freshly with the wooden façade.
Technical parameters
- House type: low energy
- Built up area: house 213,55 m² (other areas 121,25 m²)
- Usable area: house 166,52 m2 (other areas 131,37 m²)
- Disposition: 6 + kk
- Construction system: solid screwed panels - Dekpanel D, diffusely open construction
- Energy, heat: electric floor heating + bathroom tubular bodies with electric cartridge), preparation for photovoltaics
- Ventilation: air handling unit with passive recuperation (the system is equipped with superstructure control automation)
- Heat transfer coefficient through the wall U: 0,148 W / m².K
- Windows, doors: aluminum triple glazed windows, Dorsis interior doors
- Author of the architectural design and project: Ing. Irena Truhlarova, Ing. Martin Valášek, feng shui - Ing. Tereza Svobodová, ARCHCON atelier sro, www.archcon.cz
- Realization: rough construction + roof, carport, garden facilities - DŘEVOSTAVBY BISKUP sro, www.drevostavbybiskup.cz, self-help completion, 2020