House R + House B

ASSIGNMENT
We were approached by two friends to design and simultaneously realize two family houses on one plot of land. The plot is located at the boundary of a new development in the municipality of Vrané nad Vltavou, surrounded by fields and forests. The land slopes from the road towards the forest. The placement of the houses on the plot is primarily determined by orientation to the sun, the protective zone of the forest, the terrain, and the setback distances from the property boundary.
Both families initially had similar spatial requirements, but during the design process, the houses differentiated in terms of spatial and mass characteristics due to the different slopes of the land, orientation, and individual approaches of both investors. The usable area is approximately the same.

The goal was to build two family houses and utilize the invested finances as effectively as possible. For this reason, a uniform construction system was chosen, and the same materials were used except for a few exceptions. The construction took place simultaneously. The houses were placed in such a way that extensive and costly earthworks and hydro-insulation were not necessary, ensuring that there were no barriers between the living spaces and the garden. The concept of placement and integration into the sloped land is crucial for both houses and significantly influences their appearance, spatial, and construction solutions.
The search for the ideal ratio of quality and price was conducted from the beginning of the design process. Material options and individual construction and technical solutions were calculated by the contractor during the design work. This was determined by the close relationship between the architect and the contractor.

DESIGN
House R is located on the steeper part of the plot. It is designed as a two-story wooden frame structure set on a concrete basement and a monolithic retaining wall. The wall captures the terrain, creating two flat terraces at different height levels on the plot. In the basement on the lower level, there is a technical background, a bathroom with a toilet, and a guest room; on the ground floor at the upper level, there is a living space with a kitchen; on the upper floor, there are bedrooms and a bathroom with a toilet. The house has a single-pitched roof raised towards the forest. In the main living space, windows and doors are situated on three walls, ensuring ample light, a pleasant view of the adjacent forest, and immediate contact with the garden.

House B is located on a gentler slope of the plot. It is designed as a clear cubic mass, partially on a concrete slab and partially hovering above the terrain. The space created under the house is used for occasional storage of firewood and other items needed for maintaining the garden and house.
The focal point of the interior space is a concrete staircase with a fireplace, which separates the main living area from the kitchen with dining space. The object is predominantly oriented southeast towards the garden and forest, opening up with large glass surfaces. The transition between the interior and exterior is made by a wooden terrace – a pier.

CONSTRUCTION, TECHNICAL, AND MATERIAL SOLUTIONS
The houses are built as frame wooden constructions from beams (two by four), with the substructure made of monolithic concrete and concrete blocks. The ventilated facade cladding is made of planed larch battens with an exposed gap, anchored with stainless screws. The houses are distinguished in color such that the facade of House B is treated with natural dark tar, and the facade of House R is left in the natural color of larch, with the expectation that the wood will gray over time due to weathering. The windows are wooden with lacquer - a combination of operable and fixed parts. The monolithic concrete is left without further modifications. The roof of House R is made of folded lacquered material; House B has a flat roof made using waterproofing foil protected by gravel. Both roofs are ventilated.
In the interior, materials were addressed individually through discussions with investors, emphasizing the use of high-quality natural materials.
The technical equipment of the houses is at a standard level. Central heating with panel radiators, and under large glass surfaces, floor convectors with ventilation are used. House B is equipped with solar water heating. Large glass surfaces of windows and doors are protected by external lamella blinds in the color of the window frames and are electrically operated. The thermal properties of both houses meet low-energy standards.