House in the Woods

Who has never dreamed of a cottage where a deer occasionally runs across the terrace and a wild boar grunts behind the fence? Where you can simply walk barefoot into the garden for mushrooms and raspberries. Where the pines whisper outside the windows, unless drowned out by the neighbor's saw. Where the scent of resin, sawdust, and the sound of foxes saying goodnight fill the air. About a cottage in a former tramp settlement, but without mold, mustiness, and hanging fox tails...
The plot with the original cottage near Žloukovice was optimal for this intention. However, the regulations here are very strict. The placement on the foundations of the original cottage, the shape of the roof, direction of the ridge, vertical wooden cladding, and side entrance all adhere to the requirements of the Protected Landscape Area.
The design of the cottage responds to the regulatory requirements and the unique context of the plot surrounded by deep forests on two sides. The simple house with a gable roof and gable facades opens up views into the northern and southern forests. The main living space on the ground floor is connected to the terrace by a large sliding window. The window can be fully recessed into the southern exterior wall, and the boundary between the outdoor and indoor spaces disappears. Thanks to the opposite large window in the northern facade, the living space is visually bordered by forest on both sides. The same concept is applied in the attic space. Square windows frame the forest scenery and become pictures that change throughout the year. Toward the neighboring plots to the east and west, the cottage is closed off, protecting the privacy of its inhabitants.
The built-up area is 45 m². The entrance hall, bathrooms, and staircase have modest dimensions so that the living rooms can be more spacious. In the attic, in addition to the main bedroom, there is also a smaller room. The small house allows for visits from friends and has become an important place for shared experiences with the extended family. Without a television, but with logs crackling in the cast iron fireplace. Electric heaters and underfloor heating in the bathrooms are only used on freezing winter days.
The load-bearing structure of the house consists of prefabricated wooden panels that were assembled on site in just one day. The ventilated facade is made of larch boards of various widths. The windows are protected by shutters made from perforated aluminum sheets on steel frames. Inside, the main material is spruce wood – sliding doors and built-in furniture are designed from bleached spruce boards, while the staircase and floors made of wide spruce planks softly dampen footsteps.
The cat curls up on the sofa, the scent of hot tea fills the air, and it's drizzling outside. Rubber boots and baskets are already prepared for the morning.