House with studio in Prague-Liboc

The author presents a method with which he dealt with the task that deviated from the usual layout scheme of built villas. The task was further complicated by the location within the context of the historical development of Stará Liboc, on the edge of the National Cultural Heritage site Hvězda. The brief was to build a house for a couple living alternately in the Czech Republic and Switzerland with grown children, more or less for enjoying their old age. The house was to have a part for the owners with a studio for the wife, a part for the caretaker’s living quarters, and the possibility of accommodating a student, as is often customary in Switzerland. The client searched for several years for a suitable plot and an architect of similar sensitivities; the author was found at some exhibition, where the concept and architectural design of the Senior Residence in Týniště nad Orlicí caught his attention. The location posed a significant challenge and, supported by the owners' kindness towards the architect's experiments, led to the creation of a building that, according to the author’s opinion, fits into the additively grown structure of Liboc despite the expected objections from heritage protection authorities. In the mutual confrontation of the brief with the possibilities of the plot, in relation to the neighboring historical building, and considering the bustle of Libocká street, the author designed a mass that is very austere on the northern side facing the street with a protective function, while being completely transparent towards the garden leading to the deer park, so that the garden would become part of the interior. The author divided the mass into two parts separated by a glazed gap, which can indicate the beauty of the garden and the park on the southern side of the house from the outside upon arrival. This gap allows for connections between both parts – the larger mass contains the main living area built on more or less operational spaces so that the floor is at the level of the upper garden (see section), then it contains the caretaker’s apartment, on the roof of which is situated the painter’s studio, connected to the garden via a footbridge laid on a "garden house" – a buried concrete structure for a small tractor. Ultimately, the basic form of the layout crystallized into two fundamental spatial parts with a very free disposition – the male part – the main living space with a kitchen (the PhD in natural sciences loves to cook), where at the back is the owner's private space – a steam bath, whirlpool, bathroom, bedroom, study, and the female part – the painter's studio, bedroom, bathroom. Both are connected by a red closed tube with stairs. The house was developed in two phases, whereby the first exceeded the investor's budget – nevertheless, he did not dismiss the architect, but confidently requested a more economical version. This seemingly paid off, even though the author was concerned about entering the same river twice, which is why it was essentially not a completely different concept, but rather a reduction of the program connected with a closer understanding of the needs of the couple, reflected in the layout of the building. In this phase, thanks to the clients' kind approach, the southern wall was supplemented with colored sliding panels creating different spectrums when moved, which change the mood in the interior. Even though this element initially required the clients' understanding, they grew to appreciate it greatly due to their sensitivity to colors. In the house, the author was able to experiment with some other ideas thanks to the clients' artistic sensitivity, which others might not have accepted. Constructurally, this is a traditional building work, leading some to mistakenly think that the outer shell is exposed concrete. It is actually a rough, deliberately speckled plaster, which resembles the plaster of the neighboring historical house. Few clients would allow this design on a new house, but yet again, in reality, it showed that the choice was correct. The author anticipates that the northern façade will be softened by climbing greenery, for which a lattice from fence wire is prepared, which also interweaves into the interior railings. The author would like to point out how he dealt with the requirement for sloping roofs demanded by heritage protectors; these play a significant role in views from a greater distance, bringing the surrounding development closer. The layouts are visible from the attached drawings.