Family house in Staré Hamry

A steeply sloping plot with sweeping panoramic views of the picturesque ridges of the Beskydy Mountains became the defining starting point for the entire architectural concept.

The dramatic topography, which might at first appear to be a complication, was transformed into the design’s greatest asset. The substantial change in elevation made it possible to create a house whose two floors both connect naturally to the surrounding garden, blurring the boundary between interior and landscape. Positioning the house approximately in the centre of the plot makes full use of the potential of its two distinct areas: a sunlit southern garden opening onto far-reaching views, and a more secluded northern section offering peace and privacy. These two worlds are linked by a series of internal and external staircases that naturally negotiate the changes in level and create seamless connections between the individual spaces.

The lower floor, partially embedded in the slope, forms the quiet, private zone of the house. Alongside the main entrance and garage, it accommodates the bedrooms and essential utility spaces. The layout also anticipates the family’s changing needs over time: the generously sized children’s room can easily be divided into two separate rooms in the future.

The upper floor, by contrast, opens up to light, space and the distant horizons of the Beskydy landscape. It becomes the natural centre of shared family life, its atmosphere shaped by an immediate connection to the surrounding nature. The extensive glazing on the southern façade is carefully recessed into the building’s volume, providing natural protection from the intense summer sun without the need for opaque shading elements. The living space flows seamlessly onto a covered terrace, creating a welcoming transitional space between the interior and the garden—a place for relaxation, gathering and experiencing the changing landscape every day.

The architectural expression of the house is based on the contrast between two volumes of distinctly different character. The lower masonry floor, conceived as a solid stone plinth rising from the slope, gives the building a sense of stability and a natural grounding in the terrain. Above it floats the visually lighter upper floor, defined by large expanses of glazing, the rhythm of slender timber columns along the southern façade and the warm texture of timber cladding. The interplay of stone, timber and glass creates a harmonious whole that responds sensitively to the character of the surrounding landscape through a contemporary architectural language.

A striking feature of the upper-floor interior is the exposed roof structure of nailed timber trusses. Its regular rhythm lends the living space a distinctive atmosphere, emphasises its airiness and reveals both the natural beauty and structural logic of timber.

The result is a house that does not seek to overcome the sloping terrain, but instead draws its uniqueness from it. Here, the architecture grows out of the character of the place, respects its natural conditions and transforms them into a high-quality environment for everyday life.