Between the rock and the river

The cottage on the bank of the Sázava River replaces its predecessor at the same location. After the fire, only the stone base of the original cottage remained, which the new building naturally utilizes. It provides protection against flooding and a vantage point – over the river and perhaps over the daily hustle. Simply pushing aside the shutter that opens the cottage to the river and then all that's left is to listen to the splashing of the river and the rustling of the pines, observing kingfishers above the surface and rapids behind the boulders. Roast sausages over the fire, stoke the stove, chat with friends. In the evening, as one heads to the room under the roof, just big enough for sleeping, the horizon of the river disappears and the view of the rocks behind the cottage opens up – so that no one forgets how the Sázava is constricted by them here.

The cottage is a lightweight wooden structure set on a robust stone base. The wooden skeleton is clad with spruce bioboard on the interior, and an exterior façade made of charred larch boards. Charring has given the façade boards durability, at the same time it has somewhat "uglified" the cottage for unwelcome guests. Last but not least, it has connected it – albeit perhaps in a cynical way – with the previous building. Toward the slope behind the cottage, the cottage is clad with folded metal resistant to water flowing down from the roof here. The interior, due to the uniform material and color – the bioboard with its natural color and black metal – forms a cohesive "cave" undivided into a house and "furniture." The black metal of the stove, stairs, and other interior elements naturally resonates with the charred façade in terms of both color and the thematic "closeness" to fire. The durable floor made of natural rubber with stone aggregates allows for free movement between the cottage and its surroundings. The cottage, apart from electricity, is a self-contained unit. It is supplied with water from a well on the property, and wastewater is collected in a tank within the building's base. Heating is provided by a fireplace stove and direct heaters.

The generosity of the main space is enabled by minimizing the rooms upstairs to small but sufficient sleeping spaces. After all, the purpose of a trip outside the city is to be together... The shared space spans the entire height of the cottage, connecting the area in front and behind it, the river and the rocks. Toward the river, the main space is glazed along its entire length, with the connecting terrace raised above the terrain replacing contact with the ground and offering an unobstructed view of the Sázava. The terrace can be closed with a folding shutter. This is when the summer sun is too hot. Or the weekend has ended, and the open weekend house has transformed into a closed, "impregnable" box. See you again in a week…