The project is located on the periphery of a former climatic health resort, historically known as "Harmonia" thanks to its picturesqueness. By the end of the 19th century, the place became one of the first locations in the area actively promoting and exploring recreational and therapeutic potential of the forest. Although its character had gradually changed into a more permanent form of settlement, the location remained popular to this day with many people coming here to seek quiet refuge from the city amidst surrounding vegetation.
The owner also decided to settle in this area and build a house she could retreat to and recharge herself in a highly inspiring and engaging environment. Having looked for a suitable location for some time, a sloping site with an existing two storey house became available at the edge of the forest. The potential of the site was fully revealed at the rooftop of the old house, where impressive views opened up through the gaps between nearby treetops far out into the countryside.
The client’s aspiration was to create the work of exceptional artistic and experiential quality. As an art lover and design enthusiast, she generously and continuously contributed her drive, advice and support throughout the entire design and construction process.
The original two-storey house fell rather short of meeting these lofty aspirations. It had been extended several times without a clear concept, resulting in a labyrinth of small rooms on many levels interconnected in various ways. There were multiple separate entrances to respective parts of the house but no proper interior connection between floors. Despite all these factors, the decision was agreed upon to keep and integrate as much of the existing building fabric as possible into the new project.
Clearing away all minor additions and accretions and stripping the structure down to its load-bearing walls and floors resulted in the emergence of a free unbuilt space between northern perimeter of the old house and the boundary line. In its place, the new central hallway was inserted over three levels, starting with the main entrance on the bottom level and opening onto a sequence of staircases providing interior access to all levels of the house, including the new top level on the flat roof of the original structure. This interconnecting space, cascading downwards both to the front entrance and also to the back patio, became the defining feature and main compositional and operational device of the house, as well as the point of reference for all principal rooms. It connects the old and new parts of the house into a harmonious and legible whole.
The construction took place at a moderate pace over an extended period in accordance with the availability of funding. Working with limited resources combined with site access difficulties required frequent use of self-build techniques and an ad-hoc approach. This allowed important design decisions - be it selection of materials, the choreography of views and spaces, or landscaping interventions - to be properly contemplated and evaluated.
The design approach explores the theme of how the architecture impacts human emotions. Spaces, views, and movement trajectories are carefully composed using factors like proportion, scale, light, and texture with the goal of eliciting emotional responses. The opening stage for this drama is the central hallway, but it also unfolds in other parts of the house, including the back patio, private bedroom, bathroom, and the garden.
The spatial experience culminates in the new sunlit open living space in the new top level with commanding views of the surrounding landscape in three directions. The outdoor/indoor connection is further enhanced by the provision of generous terraces and by the use of expansive frameless glazing. An expressive folded tent roof designed over the entire top level, featuring pronounced overhangs, also reinforces the physical and conceptual link between the inside and outside.
Private rooms and bathrooms are placed in the middle level due to the lower floor-to-ceiling heights of the existing house. They feel more intimate yet provide comfortable
accommodation, complete with generous windows framing views of the landscape, a large front terrace and a back patio. The bottom level comprises the double height main entrance hall in the front extension, as well as utility, technical, and storage rooms located in the existing basement level.
Natural light plays a substantial role in the overall design. Great care was given to the
detailing and placement of the openings in order to achieve supreme sculptural and visual qualities of each space and surface. Walls washed with light entering through corner openings, dappled sunlight filtered onto cement floors and wall surfaces through the branches, and the unexpected play of shadows combine to create an ever-changing poetic, inspiring, and ultimately spiritual experience.
