Cottage New Hamry

The house is just a few meters from the edge of the forest, rising upward toward the tops of the spruces. Nestled among the trees, almost hidden compared to the other white stucco houses of the neighboring homes, it almost looks as if it has been absorbed by the woods...

The design is inspired by the local nature and color palette, where all shades of gray can be found. Gray can be seen in the shadows of the trees, in the granite and basalt cliffs, and even in the dark green needles and trunks of the local spruces, which are so typical of the forests of the Ore Mountains. From the beginning, it was clear that the facade and roof of the recreational house should be covered with aluminum in a similarly dark color. The structure of the facade was used to create an intense rough surface, which vaguely resembles oiled black wood and slowly growing spruce trunks. Its color and texture, however, are not the only striking aspects of this house.

From a formal standpoint, the new building is represented by an aerodynamic yet angular figure, where classic elements like the roof and wall yield to a clear form and blend into one another. The exterior appearance was created through many precisely set spatial scenes of the interior and based on the seasonally changing local climatic conditions, as the snow load in winter requires a steep roof angle. The idea of a "lookout tower" also determines the height of the house from the inside. It should resemble a tower more than a house and should also serve as a refuge. Instead of the usual two floors, three levels of action have been created - each with its own character. At the highest level, the house serves as a studio, library, and also as a sanctuary. Here, thoughts can be set free... A square window with a side length of 2.5 m frames the view of the treetops, the sky, and the landscape. One level below, in addition to the bathroom and the open gallery space, there are also sleeping nooks. The floor is partially made of a net, which connects visually and acoustically with the lowest level and functions as a relaxation area. It is a place where you can let your imagination run wild. Sitting in the net and not having solid ground under your feet has something to do with the dream of flying, just as looking up at the sky does. The lowest level of the house is dominated by the main communal space with a kitchen and central fireplace - a place for gathering and lively conversation. The technical facilities are located in a partially buried basement.

In the near future, the house will be inhabited year-round. For this reason, the house already has sleeping places for at least ten people. Additionally, the energy concept of the house is also set to be expanded in the future. Currently, heating is provided by an open fireplace and electricity. Besides this, the house is already equipped with connection points for a rooftop photovoltaic system and for vertical wind turbines that help realize the idea of energy self-sufficient living.