A detached house designed by the edit! studio has been built in the Čakovice district – understated in form, clear in layout and precisely tailored to the needs of a modern family. The architects drew on the language of Czech functionalism, interpreting it in a contemporary and unadorned manner. The result is a house resembling a grey cube, finished in light, textured plaster, which blends harmoniously into the surroundings of the side street.
The house is positioned parallel to a less-trafficked road, allowing almost the entire plot to be dedicated to a garden with a swimming pool. This layout has created a private, green recreational area, sheltered by a tall hedge. The building’s external restraint – a flat roof, a uniform colour scheme, and the absence of superfluous details – emphasises its functional character, whilst providing a backdrop for a more free-flowing composition of window openings.
Clear division of functions
The house is laid out over two storeys. The ground floor houses the living area with a lounge, study and bathroom. The first floor is designated for the private quarters: two children’s bedrooms, the master bedroom and a second bathroom. The architects have ensured a clear separation of the various functions – the study is situated away from the daily hustle and bustle, and the parents’ bedroom has been separated from the children’s rooms by a bathroom and an open gallery.
It is this gallery that constitutes the most important element of the interior. It connects both floors, creating a vertical axis of communication and enhancing the sense of spaciousness. Thanks to it, the house encourages natural interaction: the children can observe life in the living room, whilst the parents remain in touch with what is happening upstairs. The gently sloping terrain allowed the living area to be raised slightly, which opened up the interior even further and emphasised its grand character.
Light and shadow
Daylight plays a key role in the design. The well-thought-out layout of the rooms on the upper floor ensures that the setting sun also reaches the east-facing living room. As a result, the interior changes with the time of day and the season, and natural lighting becomes one of the main elements shaping the atmosphere of the home. Irregularly placed windows frame the views and bring varied streams of light into the interior.
The garden as an extension of the entrance
The living room opens directly onto the garden designed by Partero studio, with the landscaping carried out by Rojami. The greenery creates a soft boundary between the house and its surroundings, ensuring privacy and a pleasant backdrop for everyday life. The garden, like the interior, was conceived as a space for spending time together – a natural extension of the living area.
The house in Čakovice is an example of architecture that combines functionalist discipline with the needs of a modern family. The minimalist form, clear layout and thoughtful use of light create a space that is comfortable, flexible and full of subtle qualities. The design by edit! demonstrates that simplicity – when well thought out – can be exceptionally expressive.
design: edit!
team: Ivan Boroš, Juraj Calaj, Vítězslav Danda
photography: BoysPlayNice
Read also: Villas and residences | Czech Republic | Single-family house | Modernism | whiteMAD on Instagram
