We have long focused on the challenge of designing contemporary houses for village settings or historic environments. Preserving the historical context and drawing inspiration from traditional architectural forms are key priorities for us. We have returned to this theme repeatedly in the village of Bukovany. Václav Navrátil has family, fields, and a vineyard there; together with Jan Sedláček and the SENAA team, we have gradually completed three projects along the local "wine cellar lane." We began by renovating an uncle’s small cellar, followed by two weekend houses used by the family and also rented to guests for short stays. Bukovanský domeček is the latest of these. When we first started working on the lane, it was neglected and falling into disrepair; today, it is a place where locals enjoy taking walks.
Vývoz Street—now more commonly known as Vinařská ulička (Winemakers' Lane)—originated within a deep, narrow cut in the terrain that begins at the village’s main road and extends toward the fields. Small houses belonging to the village poor, as well as deep, long, freestanding cellars, were built along both sides of the ravine. These individual houses, clinging to the hillside, featured their own small cellars, courtyards, and outbuildings. The street is very narrow; in places, the building lines are only three meters apart. Local farmers originally used the large cellars to store potatoes and beets for the winter, though over time, these spaces were converted into wine cellars. While about fifteen families lived here after the war, by the turn of the century, only a single resident remained.
The weekend house stands in a tight cluster of small structures, cellars, and courtyards. Situated on a plot of just 180 m², the new building follows the footprint of the original house. Two small courtyards remain between the house and the wine cellar, while a parking space and a shed are located at the rear of the property. Unconventionally, the entrance from the back courtyard leads directly into the dining area, which opens onto the main living space.
The focal point of this area is a spiral concrete staircase designed as a sculptural element. The spiral rises directly from the concrete floor to a glass landing; sunlight streams through this landing—and a garden-facing roof dormer—to illuminate the staircase from above. The stairs were cast in situ using pigmented concrete and subsequently ground down to their final finish.
Facing the street, the living area features traditional box windows, whereas it opens onto the garden via a large, frameless corner window. Another large window, designed with a deep sill for sitting, is set into the gable wall. Adjoining the dining area is a sauna with a small relaxation room overlooking the courtyard, while the attic houses two bedrooms and a toilet.
A striking interior feature consists of old timber beams salvaged from a demolished apartment building in Prague’s Karlín district, combined with new wooden ceiling decking—materials the architects personally selected at the sawmill. The attic partition walls are also constructed from these reclaimed beams. The wood was preserved in its original state; the beams were simply cleaned and brushed with a nylon disc. The remaining material was cut into planks and repurposed as wall cladding for the sauna's relaxation room.
The house draws on traditional forms, further developed through contemporary architectural elements and historical construction techniques. The perimeter walls are built of brick blocks without additional external insulation, while the interior plaster is integrally colored and trowel-finished, requiring no further surface treatment. Rounded corners at the window reveals and lintels serve as a distinctive softening element. The blend of varied details and the overall spatial layout creates a distinctive spatial experience, demonstrating how contemporary architecture can be introduced into the historic context of a traditional wine-growing lane.
