the 67-square-metre cottage on the edge of the forest was designed by architects from the Czech studio Archicraft. The cottage is located in a green suburb of Prague. The architects received clear guidelines from the investors from the outset. The cottage is intended to be simple, modest and to become a weekend retreat for a couple who live in the city every day. “In the spring of 2020, our studio was approached by a couple with a vision of a modest house that would provide them with a peaceful retreat in nature, an escape from the daily hustle and bustle of the city. A comfortable place where trees hum instead of trams and where contact with nature is immediate.” – explain the architects at Archicraft.
The neighbourhood they chose for their cottage has a unique atmosphere. It is not reached by a convenient tarmac road, but by a rather rough road that changes the perception of the place in itself. Further away from the worries of the big city, closer to nature, we switch to a different mode. A mode of relaxation and communing with nature. Local regulations have set a maximum footprint and building height. The archetypal form of the cabin was chosen to match the surrounding buildings
“There are beautiful tall coniferous trees in the area, which fascinated us and whose pattern is reflected in the façade. It consists of dark aluminium shingles and its shape resembles a pinecone.” – add the architects
The aluminium surface of the facade guarantees easy maintenance and durability and meets the basic requirement of practicality. The adherence to nature is supported by the sliding glass surfaces, which connect the interior living area with the surroundings and wonderfully extend the sense of space inside the cottage. The large windows not only provide a beautiful view, but also plenty of light
The idea was to create a space that exudes the cosiness and warmth of home. Accordingly, oak wood was used in the interior, particularly on the floor or the fireplace wall. Structural spruce CLT panels remained visible in the bedroom and staircase. This natural material gives the interior a warm character and saves on tiling costs. CLT panels also have advantages in terms of structural performance – their shallow structural depth allows for large spans and has a high load-bearing capacity. Their low thickness combined with good thermal insulation leads to a more spacious interior. The structure was entirely designed and realised by 3AE, a company specialising in wooden buildings made of solid Czech wood panels
“We integrated the kitchen into the living area so that it is a natural part of it. Therefore, we placed a bookcase above it, rising to the ceiling, and for some of the cabinets we chose a unifying oak wood motif with the same profile as the wall by the fireplace. The table was naturally integrated between the kitchen cabinets.” – say the architects from the Archicraft studio
The cottage is a synergy of contemporary design, respect for nature and practical use of space. Even in a small space, it is possible to create space for comfort, relaxation and artistic creation
source: www.archicraft.cz
photos: Petr Polák / www.petrpolakstudio.cz
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