Glass Master's House

In 1835, a glassworks was built on the edge of the forest under Čtyři palice, leading to the establishment of a new settlement. The work of the Milov glassmakers quickly became famous, and Milov glass was exported to Europe and overseas. However, at the end of the 19th century, the glassworks could not withstand competition from the North Bohemian glasshouses without close proximity to the railway, and it ceased operations in 1886. Only the brick building of the glassmaster remained, which our project aimed to reconstruct. In our work, we relied on preserved original plans. According to them, we restored the symmetrical composition of the building, took inspiration from the restoration of the facades, and added the lost bell tower. All preserved architectural elements were restored by skilled local craftsmen, and contemporary elements were added. Thanks to the generosity of the client, we had the opportunity to create a comprehensive architectural work, from the restoration of the building to the detailed design of individual elements of its interior. The building was thus transformed into a comfortable residential house, and since its owner is a collector of utility glass, the construction also includes a public gallery of his collection.

The building is divided on the ground floor into two parts by a hall that connects the southern and northern facades. The eastern part of the house is residential, with a living room, spacious kitchen, sauna, bedroom, and sanitary and operational facilities. In the western half of the ground floor, which originally served agricultural purposes, there is a glass gallery and a wine bar. In the attic, there are two guest rooms and a spacious loft used for hosting social events. The existing vaulted cellar is used as a storage and wine cellar. The building is heated by a heat pump connected to geothermal wells.