<translation>Forest Shelter</translation>

Our client came to us with the idea of creating a refuge in the landscape, a "retreat," where he would recharge for the demanding work in Prague. We set off with him to the region between Central and Southern Bohemia, from where he hails and where he has enjoyed visiting since childhood. He led us to a plot of land in the middle of fields, forests, and meadows, full of unusual boulders, to a place that was remote and somewhat forgotten. It is best characterized by the words of a chronicler from a nearby village: “The landscape around is quiet and very healthy. Whoever visits this landscape is captivated by its mysterious peace, as there is no industrial enterprise nearby, and the people earn their living mainly through agriculture and cattle breeding. …. The buildings are mostly wooden and thatched, which is pleasing to the observer's eye and evokes ancient memories of how it used to be and how it is today. The people of this land are hardworking, warm-hearted, and pious. From the granite boulders, of which there are plenty here, various needs are carved out.” The magical landscape immediately won us over in connection with the client’s intention. In the meantime, the client became our friend, and we decided that we would all together build the “retreat,” as we later called it, with our own hands. The building materials were pre-determined: the foundation was wood from the nearby forest, and everything else was to be made using local resources and craftsmen.

We designed a compact closed volume, a freestanding object on boulders, with its back raised on one of them. A closed black object made of charred wood. Inside, it hides one continuous interior space measuring 3.1 x 5.8 m. In the entrance area, there is a free flat space 2.3 m long with a height just right for a standing person, opening up through a large glazed area with a view. The rest of the length of the structure rises stepwise to an opening towards the treetops, ending with a flat area for lying down. Thus, the space is multifunctional, suitable not only for living but also for smaller events, performances, and reflection. Under the individual steps is storage space, and by flipping one of the benches, a second double bed is created. Both glazed openings can be closed with large shutters, the larger one using a pulley and crank. For the cooler months of the year, the building is equipped with small stoves vented into a metal chimney.

The basic structural framework of the retreat is a beam construction created in collaboration with local carpenters. Outside, it is entirely clad in tongue-and-groove boards, which were later charred. The material for the boards and beams is sourced from the owner’s nearby windfall. Inside, the structure is covered with OSB boards for reinforcement and cost consideration. The roof is covered with two layers of asphalt sheets. Drainage is provided by a slanted steel L-profile, which also serves as a bracket for the pulley guide wheels above the large window. All the steel components were prepared by a locksmith from a nearby village according to our documentation. We assembled the building over several extended weekends between autumn 2012 and spring 2013.