Family House Dolní Malá Úpa

In the exceptional context of the mountain village of Malá Úpa, we designed a house for friends that draws from historical buildings in the Krkonoš mountains, utilizes centuries-old knowledge of mountain living, and transforms it for contemporary housing needs.
The house was situated on a western-facing sloping mountain meadow along the border ridge so that it confirms local customs both in terms of distance from the road and orientation of the ridge. It is a shape citation of historical mountain houses, supplemented with contemporary architectural principles.
The shape of the house is simple, distinctly elongated, set on a solid plinth covered with local stone. The volume of the house above the stone plinth is clad in wood, which has been left untreated and over time changes its appearance, acquiring a silvery gray color from which white-painted strips covering the joints of the facade boards increasingly stand out as an accent. Thus, the facade will endure for many years even in the conditions of our highest mountains.
The roofing is addressed with a gabled roof covered with black lacquered aluminum sheets, from which a pair of dormers protrude, consistently set back from the gables. The smaller dormer facing the road is entirely finished with roofing sheets, while the larger dormer oriented toward the view and illuminating the bedrooms has its front facade clad in wood.
In the western part, the main volume of the house is extended by a veranda, inspired by the extensions of historical cottages. The living veranda is partially covered with vertical slatting at the facade level, which creates a buffer between the interior and the exterior and also visually diminishes the effect of the veranda protrusion. A modern, fully open steel terrace flying above the surrounding terrain extends from the veranda, supported by a pair of splayed legs. In extreme weather, when the environment blurs around and visibility is minimal, it becomes a command bridge in the middle of nowhere.
In contrast to the open facade with the veranda, the facade facing the road is somewhat closed off. This facade conceals all elements that are undesirable to accentuate, with the only significant element balancing the metal dormer being a black entry steel box that protects against direct weather influence.
Through the entrance box, visitors enter an entrance hall and then into the house, with a natural connection of rooms where the spacious living area takes center stage. From the first floor, stairs lead to the basement with a home wellness area and sports section, and to the attic, which is purely bedrooms.
The interior concept resonates with the restrained character of the house, where the main goal was to create a dignified space for the family, where everyone will feel comfortable even in the worst mountain storms. In the interior, wood is primarily utilized, supplemented with discreet muted colors and carefully selected artisanal and artistic elements.