Village in Černošice – a round element suits strict minimalism

photo: Ondřej Mika

Černošice has maintained its reputation as a good address for over a hundred years – there are villas that testify to the taste and elegance of the first decades of the 20th century and can still serve as examples of timeless family living concepts. Many of them were built by significant architectural personalities of their time, while others belonged to prominent figures of Czech culture, and there is even an educational trail through these houses in Černošice. Although there are also outliers of post-revolutionary searches for the direction of representative architecture, the present brings projects that stylistically uphold the standard corresponding to the nature of this place. Behind every successful architectural endeavor, there are usually two crucial factors – an enlightened client whose taste allows for the creation of a quality project, and a good architect who provides the idea and vision. One such project is the villa designed by Ing. arch. Jana Klečková Holečková for a young family. The defining element that gives the minimalist project a distinctive character is the use of amorphous shapes.

The clients had a vision of a clean concept without unnecessary elements, but they wanted to "disrupt" the overall simplicity with at least one atypical feature. They requested that the house be two stories and primarily made of natural materials. "For me as an architect, the vision was clear after consulting with the client – a modern, minimalist, and yet functional house for a young family of four, maximally connected to the garden. We agreed on the idea of using natural materials for the façade of the house, which would gradually flow into the interior," explains the architect about her design. "Structurally, we wanted to give the house an unusual touch. We achieved this with a rounded amorphous shape that forms the entire ground floor. This floor plan curve is interrupted by large-format glass walls of the living room, oriented toward the garden. The second floor consists of a clean and simple cuboid mass," she adds about the shape solution. The project was successfully realized not only aesthetically but also stands up to everyday use: "The house is very glassy and airy, but it offers us enough privacy," assesses the result the homeowner.

A quality project requires quality materials

The choice of building materials was largely left to the architect and the contracting construction company. What was important to them was particularly adherence to the set budget for construction and the use of natural materials. "We agreed with the client on a budget for the construction, and we adhered to it. The main task was to choose materials that meet all the required criteria from both an economic and technical perspective. Not everything can be used for rounded walls at a reasonable price. We were looking for a cost-effective and flexible solution, and based on consultations with suppliers, we chose the Ytong system for its quick construction and easy shaping of curved corners," the architect states regarding the material selection. Ytong also met the requirement for the natural character of the material – it is made from purely natural raw materials, and the manufacturer declares environmentally friendly production. Additionally, thanks to its alkaline composition and porous structure, Ytong contributes to a healthy climate in the home.

The choice of Ytong lightweight concrete is also seen as optimal by the representative of the construction company YLK, Ing. Petr Dundel: "We had to carefully arrange the arches here, some with small radii. Thanks to the workability of Ytong, such a challenge can be realized with great precision and minimal construction waste." The homeowner is also satisfied with the execution of this atypical element: "During the construction, we sometimes had to explain to the workers why we had come up with rounded shapes. From their perspective, it was additional work. However, we think they handled it excellently and relatively quickly. It was more about a natural fear of something they don’t do every day. We are extremely satisfied with the final result. The internal arches are very clean, and the external radius is sufficient to emphasize the unconventional shape of the house," evaluates the owner.

In addition to Ytong, lime-sand blocks Silka were used here, which have similar composition and the same manufacturer. "We suggested using lime-sand blocks for the wall between the garage and the living room. There are several reasons for this – the masonry is more stressed here due to the load of the massive ceiling, and Silka is renowned for its high load-bearing capacity while maintaining a slim wall structure. Another reason was the sound insulation properties of the wall," explains Ing. Petr Dundel about the construction solution.

The result is a house that offers not only comfortable living but also, due to the use of quality materials, assurance that it will retain the same properties in the future. It will not burden the owners with the need for additional investments in repairs, and the house will maintain its value for generations.