Chalet Karlov
PLOT
An exceptional plot in the middle of the Protected Landscape Area of Křivoklátsko.
A secluded homestead on top of a hill, surrounded by meadows and forest.
With a view of the valley and an orchard that occupies most of the 5 ha estate.
Absolute tranquility with no neighbors and any disturbing elements, yet within a 35-minute drive from Prague's Smíchov.
ORCHARD
The original cherry orchard, established during the Fürstenberg era, had been neglected for several decades.
Along with the construction of the house, its overall restoration began.
Over an area of more than 30,000 square meters, wild shrubs and other overgrowth have been removed. The soil has been reclaimed. Remains of dead trees have been removed.
New fruit trees have been planted in the last four seasons, now including a mix of apple, plum, pear, and of course, cherry trees.
Reclamation will take several more years, but even now, the orchard lends the entire place an unforgettable charm.
HOUSE
Very sensitively integrated into the landscape, unobtrusive from the outside, and generous as a single-story house inside.
The built area is 550 m², with a usable area of the residential part of 400 m².
Part of it consists of a reinforced concrete monolith set into the ground with a walkable green roof.
The other part features wooden chalets with a massive skeletal structure and a unique internal space open to the roof.
An irregularly paved approach path made of granite winds from the entrance gate, smoothly transitioning into an entry courtyard with the main entrance to the house and access to the underground garage.
The first chalet consists of an entrance hall, a cloakroom, and access to the private part of the house. This includes bedrooms, a dressing room, and a bathroom designed with lightweight partitions inserted into the large space.
Next is a hall with a skylight and a view into the glass-walled gym. From the hall, there is access to children's rooms, an office, a guest room, and technical rooms.
The second chalet is the heart of the house and the culmination of spatial composition – it includes a dining room with a kitchen, a bar, a living area, a stone fireplace, and an intimate lounge in the roof of the chalet, accessible via a hidden staircase.
The glass gables of the chalets and other living spaces allow for a unique view of the orchard and the landscape to the southeast.
Adjoining the living chalet is a southwest-facing terrace with a comfortable pergola and an outdoor pool.
The house, terrace, and courtyard merge with the slope formed by retaining walls.
The surroundings of the house are bordered by a cultivated garden with mature trees; however, the main focus and efforts of the inhabitants are directed toward the orchard.
CONSISTENCY WITH AUTHORITIES
The new building is constructed on the site of a former recreational cottage, which was transformed from a historical fruit drying facility. The existence of these buildings and the classification of the land in the municipality's zoning plan as building land were a good starting point for success.
From the beginning, the house was designed to blend with the surrounding nature and to avoid unnecessary conflict with its protectors and other relevant authorities.
The choice of a traditional archetypal cottage form, the use of larch shingles for roofs and facades, the embedding of half of the house into the slope, and the division of the large mass into two smaller structures all contributed.
Thanks to the enlightened approach of the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area and the local building authority, approval for its final appearance was achieved in record time.
INTERIOR
All furnishings and interior equipment of the house were custom-made according to the architect's design.
The dominant materials in the interior are wood, stone, and concrete plaster.
TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT
The house is heated by an electric Heat-flow system, and hot water is provided by an electric boiler.
A 100 m deep well dug on the property supplies sufficient drinking water.
The sewage system is connected to a household sewage treatment plant, followed by a 15 cubic meter system for cleaned and rainwater.
All technologies in the house are controlled by a smart Loxone system.
Future plans include the installation of solar panels.
LIVING
The house serves as the permanent residence of the investor, fulfilling their desire to escape the city.
A native Prague resident, after 40 years of living in apartments around the city center, now lives in solitude, plants trees, and watches the nearby wildlife from their window.
An exceptional plot in the middle of the Protected Landscape Area of Křivoklátsko.
A secluded homestead on top of a hill, surrounded by meadows and forest.
With a view of the valley and an orchard that occupies most of the 5 ha estate.
Absolute tranquility with no neighbors and any disturbing elements, yet within a 35-minute drive from Prague's Smíchov.
ORCHARD
The original cherry orchard, established during the Fürstenberg era, had been neglected for several decades.
Along with the construction of the house, its overall restoration began.
Over an area of more than 30,000 square meters, wild shrubs and other overgrowth have been removed. The soil has been reclaimed. Remains of dead trees have been removed.
New fruit trees have been planted in the last four seasons, now including a mix of apple, plum, pear, and of course, cherry trees.
Reclamation will take several more years, but even now, the orchard lends the entire place an unforgettable charm.
HOUSE
Very sensitively integrated into the landscape, unobtrusive from the outside, and generous as a single-story house inside.
The built area is 550 m², with a usable area of the residential part of 400 m².
Part of it consists of a reinforced concrete monolith set into the ground with a walkable green roof.
The other part features wooden chalets with a massive skeletal structure and a unique internal space open to the roof.
An irregularly paved approach path made of granite winds from the entrance gate, smoothly transitioning into an entry courtyard with the main entrance to the house and access to the underground garage.
The first chalet consists of an entrance hall, a cloakroom, and access to the private part of the house. This includes bedrooms, a dressing room, and a bathroom designed with lightweight partitions inserted into the large space.
Next is a hall with a skylight and a view into the glass-walled gym. From the hall, there is access to children's rooms, an office, a guest room, and technical rooms.
The second chalet is the heart of the house and the culmination of spatial composition – it includes a dining room with a kitchen, a bar, a living area, a stone fireplace, and an intimate lounge in the roof of the chalet, accessible via a hidden staircase.
The glass gables of the chalets and other living spaces allow for a unique view of the orchard and the landscape to the southeast.
Adjoining the living chalet is a southwest-facing terrace with a comfortable pergola and an outdoor pool.
The house, terrace, and courtyard merge with the slope formed by retaining walls.
The surroundings of the house are bordered by a cultivated garden with mature trees; however, the main focus and efforts of the inhabitants are directed toward the orchard.
CONSISTENCY WITH AUTHORITIES
The new building is constructed on the site of a former recreational cottage, which was transformed from a historical fruit drying facility. The existence of these buildings and the classification of the land in the municipality's zoning plan as building land were a good starting point for success.
From the beginning, the house was designed to blend with the surrounding nature and to avoid unnecessary conflict with its protectors and other relevant authorities.
The choice of a traditional archetypal cottage form, the use of larch shingles for roofs and facades, the embedding of half of the house into the slope, and the division of the large mass into two smaller structures all contributed.
Thanks to the enlightened approach of the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area and the local building authority, approval for its final appearance was achieved in record time.
INTERIOR
All furnishings and interior equipment of the house were custom-made according to the architect's design.
The dominant materials in the interior are wood, stone, and concrete plaster.
TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT
The house is heated by an electric Heat-flow system, and hot water is provided by an electric boiler.
A 100 m deep well dug on the property supplies sufficient drinking water.
The sewage system is connected to a household sewage treatment plant, followed by a 15 cubic meter system for cleaned and rainwater.
All technologies in the house are controlled by a smart Loxone system.
Future plans include the installation of solar panels.
LIVING
The house serves as the permanent residence of the investor, fulfilling their desire to escape the city.
A native Prague resident, after 40 years of living in apartments around the city center, now lives in solitude, plants trees, and watches the nearby wildlife from their window.
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