House Beneath the Cross Hill is a modest timber home designed by hurá studio for the architect’s parents, built largely by the architect’s father himself. Nestled on a gentle slope below a local landmark known as Cross Hill, the house embraces its setting through simplicity, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to the landscape. The project reflects a family collaboration and a search for authenticity — an architecture of care, restraint, and enduring warmth.

The home stands on the southern slope below the Calvary hill (Cross Hill), at the edge of a small Czech town. Its southern gable opens through large windows toward the opposite hillside, while the rear elevation is embedded into the terrain for protection and privacy. The architects sought to design a compact, sustainable house that would quietly merge with the landscape rather than dominate it.
The traditional gabled form references rural archetypes of the region, yet is reinterpreted with contemporary clarity, timber technology, and refined detailing.

Design and Construction

The house was built as a timber-frame structure following passive-house standards, including mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
It rests on a foam-glass gravel cushion, providing excellent insulation and minimizing environmental impact. The façade is clad in wood-fibre boards, finished with a fine off-white plaster.

Inside, the house celebrates craftsmanship: oak, spruce, and birch plywood form a warm palette that connects structure and interior. Exposed timber beams define the main living space, emphasizing the honesty of construction. 

Spatial Experience

The main living area opens to the south through expansive glazing, drawing in light and connecting the interior to the garden. The northern wall, set into the hill, offers thermal stability and privacy.
The house balances openness and enclosure, lightness and groundedness — a quiet retreat that resonates with the surrounding nature.