Rekonstrukce Kotrčova mlýna

Almost nothing has survived from the equipment and fixtures of the mill. The water from the stream has long been diverted. Only a decayed shaft sticking out of the massive walls of the mill hinted that there once was a mill wheel. In recent decades, it was beautified according to the tastes of the former owner and reminded me more of a cottage from Posázaví. The interior was a dark labyrinth of small rooms.
The house must be spacious, just like the infinite nature around it, so we cleared it of all unnecessary items and let its essence shine - the solidity and dignity of stone, in the most beautiful shade of granite I know. We added stone gables - its face. It was slightly elevated, so it could at least "compete" with the infinitely tall forests surrounding it.
The house is intended for weekend relaxation with a view of more permanent living. Its outer dimensions are approximately 9 x 8 meters. On the ground floor, there is a kitchen with a dining room, on the first floor, a living room with a fireplace, and in the attic, a bedroom with a bathroom. The house has a minimum of doors and partitions. In the basement, there is a technical room and a wine storage.
All windows have shutters. Their opening not only signals the arrival of the owners but also opens life in the house through which the surrounding nature can enter with its colors. Above all, the scenery behind the large window of the living room is a gigantic television screen, a story that can be watched for hours. The newly built lake reflects the entire valley and the genius loci of this place.
Before reconstruction, the house showed significant cracks in several places. Therefore, the ceilings are designed as reinforced concrete to strengthen the entire structure. The slab on the top floor is lifted in the side walls and carries the roof, which has no struts, leaving the attic space open. The original stone walls, up to 1 meter thick, are supplemented with a drywall facade, with a vapor barrier and thermal insulation.

The reconstructed building is exceptional for several reasons.
The builder and architect approached the reconstruction of the remnants of the former mill with the awareness of the necessity to preserve the building's connection to the surrounding environment, thus not suppressing their beauty and creating conditions for their mutual blending. The building is situated between a higher forest lake and a newly constructed, lower lake. The remnants of the former stream and the riverbed only enhance the perfection of the building's location and the charm of the landscape.
The original building material was utilized to the greatest possible extent - the granite found in the area with a special shade. The originally low building was slightly elevated with newly built stone gables. The height, slope of the roof, and used materials harmoniously blend with the surrounding landscape, perhaps except for the roof window.
The internal layout and structural solution used are simple and are determined by the building's external dimensions of 9 x 8 meters, with wall thickness of more than one meter. The lower space consists of a kitchen with a dining area, a floor above is the living room, and in the attic, there is a bedroom with a small bathroom. The overall impression of the successfully completed reconstruction is somewhat marred by the appearance of the interior. The steel staircase, steel glazed wall, and the entire layout feel cold and seem to say: "I am not intended for permanent living."
Even so, and primarily because the building (reconstruction) responds to building traditions while also adhering to modern architecture, it deserves the highest recognition in its category.