Reading Room in the Attic

Sometimes it is not necessary to build a new house to create a completely new place. Just looking at the space that has long existed with slightly different eyes is enough. In this case, we were tasked with transforming an old attic into a place for relaxation, reading books, and spending time together with family. For our client, the attic also holds personal significance. As a young girl, she spent time here with her parents reading books. The wish was to bring this place back to life, preserve its original atmosphere, and create a cozy reading room where she can now return with her family and grandchildren.

You can see for yourselves the peace that the new reading room holds. Several cottages are surrounded by meadows, fields, and ponds, creating a place of true tranquility. No urban noise or traffic. Just the landscape outside the windows. It was this atmosphere that we wanted to bring inside the attic as well. The reading room was not to be an overcrowded interior but a simple and calm space where natural materials, books, and the original structure of the house could shine.

At the start, the attic certainly did not look as cozy as it does today. It primarily served as a storage space for everything that had accumulated over the years in the cottage. However, behind the seemingly ordinary space, a story was hidden. It was here that our client used to come as a young girl with her parents, and together they spent time reading books. So, when we began to think about what could be done with the attic, the theme of the future space was actually clear from the beginning: books, tranquility, and memories.

One of the first steps was searching for the right material and color combinations. We wanted the new interior to respect the character of the old cottage, but at the same time not feel heavy or overly rustic. Thus, wood, light shades, and exposed original beams became the foundation. We designed new elements simply and cleanly so that they did not compete with the old house but naturally complemented it. We considered everything from the structure to the selection of switches and the design of beds and bookshelves.

We divided the attic space into several areas without physically separating them. The main area is dedicated to comfortable seating and reading. It is followed by a smaller relaxation zone with a hanging chair, and at the end of the attic, a sleeping area for summer overnight stays was created. A practical part is the hidden storage. We concealed it behind a continuous wooden wall with hidden doors. There is thus plenty of storage space, but when you look into the reading room, you hardly notice it.

Books are the main theme of the entire space. They are not just a decoration but the reason why the reading room was created in the first place. We designed custom wooden bookshelves so that they naturally became part of the interior and provided enough space for the current and future family library. Thus, the reading room carries on the original story of this place. Only instead of one generation, the entire family can now enjoy it.

One time you will sit in the armchair with a book, another time in the hanging chair, and at other times you will come here just to chat with family or grandchildren. Each part of the attic offers a slightly different way to relax, but they are all united by the same atmosphere. An important aspect of the design was also natural light. The original attic had little of it, so we added skylights and light-conducting tiles to the roof. Light thus penetrates deep into the space and throughout the day, along with the movement of the sun, the atmosphere of the entire reading room gradually changes.

We wanted the reading room to function as a truly independent place for spending time. Therefore, we discreetly incorporated a toilet into the space by the staircase. It is hidden behind a door and does not disrupt the openness of the attic during everyday use. Thus, the client and her guests do not need to go downstairs for longer stays, and everything necessary is right at their literal doorstep.

It is the little details that ultimately determine how the entire space feels. The staircase leading to the attic is partially concealed by vertical wooden slats. This creates a natural boundary while still maintaining airiness and views throughout the interior thanks to the gaps. We gave the same care to the bookshelves. We designed the wooden shelves specifically for this space, and they were subsequently custom-made by a carpenter. This way, they utilize the attic to its fullest and seem like they have belonged here forever.

Black switches, metal handles, or black hardware of the hidden doors may seem minor at first glance. However, in combination with wood, light surfaces, and the original beams, they contribute to the character of the entire interior. The client can return to the books here just as she once did with her parents. And that is what we love most about this project. We have not only created a new interior. We have given the old place the opportunity to continue its story.