The family house in the eastern Czech village has been designed as a new build on the site of the original structure within a continuous street development. There was not much space between the neighboring houses, and the design had to work with a gap while maintaining the street line. From the street, the house appears intentionally closed and compact, while towards the garden, it opens up with large glazed areas. This offers the owners maximum privacy and a direct connection to the garden.

The decision to replace the old house with a new build was not impulsive. Initially, we considered a renovation with an extension, for which there was even a study. However, during the renovation, it would have been necessary to address height differences and a more complicated connection to the terrain and garden. In the end, we agreed together that a new build would bring better functionality and comfort.

The plot in the gap development meant longer negotiations with authorities and heritage protectors. It helped that the street does not have a uniform architectural style and is not in the direct center of the village. The flat-roofed house, which was the owners' wish, was ultimately approved without major modifications.

The shape of the house has been shifted from the right neighbor, who has an elongated garage at the property line. The wall needed to be completely repaired, and it was clad with brick strips, which we also used to connect with the interior, applying them to the wall behind the dining table. The slight setback of the new house from one of the neighbors achieved significantly better daylight in the ground floor.

In the interior, we agreed with the owners on a minimalist style with natural wood. This is not our first collaboration; the clients were satisfied with the apartment design I created for them years ago. They wanted to partially repeat that style. The furniture is custom-made according to the design and offers many hidden spaces, such as passages to the pantry or laundry chutes from either the hallway or bathrooms.

Layout oriented towards light and the garden
The layout is based on an open living space oriented towards the garden. From the entrance, the interior opens up in full depth, and the sightline directs all the way to the greenery, which becomes a natural part of the atmosphere of the house. The house is connected both horizontally and vertically. Above the kitchen island, the space is open to both floors of the house. We paid great attention to the staircase in the middle of the layout. The retreat of the facade on the upper floor allowed for the installation of a large fixed window, which brings daylight into the center of the house. This also provides a partial view of the garden from one of the children's rooms.

The owners also needed a garage for two cars, a storage room, and a small gym — due to the narrow plot, it was not possible to place everything on the street line. Therefore, the garden shed with the garage is placed further in the garden — accessible via a passage along the house. Right behind the gates, it is possible to park by the entrance door to the house, and to carry in groceries dry-footed thanks to the concrete roof above the entrance, the other side of which rests against a wall that conceals the garbage bins, a sore spot for most family houses, here discreetly hidden from view. The facade of the house is partially clad with thermo-spruce, the same material used on the gates, the garage cladding, and the doors of the outdoor kitchen.