Tucked away from the surrounding area, yet open to the forest – this is the single-family home in the Czech village of Krámy, designed by the architectural practice Anna Koukolová architekti. It was built as a weekend retreat for Prague residents seeking a place to slow down and immerse themselves in the beautiful landscape. Its simple design, honest materials and well-thought-out layout mean that the building, with a usable area of 123 square metres, surprises with its sense of space and the way it guides its inhabitants through successive views of nature.
The plot slopes down towards a small copse and a stream, and its character determined the design from the outset. The architects opted for a timber structure clad in charred larch, which, on the one hand, provides the residents with a sense of privacy, whilst on the other, opens up to the northern views. The tall glazed areas and the sloping ceiling in the living area create a sense of spaciousness, despite the house’s modest scale.
The House and the Landscape
The clients, seeking a peaceful spot outside Prague, came across two neighbouring plots situated some 40 kilometres from the city. The natural slope of the land and the proximity of trees became the main guiding principles for the design. The architects drew on the style of contemporary Australian homes – simple in form, based on natural materials and seamlessly blending the interior with its surroundings. As a result, the building coexists with the landscape, creating its own tranquil space.
Whilst the façade facing the neighbours remains closed off, the northern façade opens the house up to views of a copse, a stream and the pastures beyond. A similar approach has been adopted in the private bedroom area – windows frame fragments of greenery, whilst movement between rooms alters the way the landscape is perceived.
Connected by light
The design is based on a clear division between the day and night zones. The two parts are connected by a glazed passageway, which has become one of the building’s most distinctive features. The main structure, with its single-pitched roof and high interior ceiling, houses the communal space, whilst the bedroom wing – smaller in size and featuring a gable roof – provides a more intimate atmosphere.
The different functional requirements have resulted in the varied forms of the two sections. In the living area, a full-height wall with large glazed sections has been used, whilst in the private wing the windows have been arranged to frame intimate views of the garden and ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
Construction and materials
The house is founded on reinforced concrete strip footings and a foundation slab, and its structure consists of a 2 × 4 timber-frame system with a longitudinal load-bearing wall supported by two steel columns. The interior is finished with birch plywood, which also serves an acoustic function. Underfloor heating is supplemented by convector heaters, and the centrepiece of the living area is a formwork concrete chimney housing a double-sided fireplace – accessible from both the living room and the terrace, where it serves as an outdoor hearth.
The façade, made of charred larch, requires no maintenance and develops a natural patina over time. The roof is clad in standing seam sheet metal in an anthracite shade. The terrace is made of untreated larch, which will take on a silvery hue over the years. The fencing combines a concrete plinth with the imprinted pattern of the formwork and vertical wooden slats.
An interior close to nature
In the living area, birch plywood defines the character of the interior – it covers the walls, doors and built-in furniture, creating a cohesive, bright space. The corridor conceals the entrances to the toilet, the utility room and spacious storage cupboards. Deep window recesses let in light and frame views of the greenery.
The private wing features a bathroom with a freestanding bath and a walk-in shower. The surfaces are finished with a uniform cement render, which creates a calm, monolithic character. The epoxy resin flooring ensures durability and resistance to everyday wear and tear, even in a home where a dog lives.
The house’s architecture reinforces its relationship with the surrounding landscape and responds to the natural topography of the site. The original design also provided for the possibility of building a garage and a small guest house in the wooded area – without disrupting the composition of the entire plot.
design: Anna Koukolová Architekti
photographs: Alex Shoots Buildings
See also: Detached house | Czech Republic | Interiors | Timber | Recommended | whiteMAD on Instagram
