Family House in Točná

The family house is located in the village of Točná on the southern edge of Prague. The plot is situated within the original development, and despite having an area of only 540 m², it does not feel cramped because it is located at the back of the gardens of houses connected to the street above. The plot slopes south toward the access road—this, along with the size of the plot, was a determining factor for the design of the house. The shape, a simple three-story block, is positioned along the northern boundary of the plot, allowing the southwestern part of the garden to be used for living functions, and at the same time, a flat area of the yard could be created between the building and the road, designed as a lowered level of the garden.
The house, with external dimensions of 11.8 x 7.0 m, is divided into three levels. The lowest level, embedded into the slope, contains an office, as well as storage spaces and garage parking. The middle level essentially serves as an open main living area, correlating in height with the terrace in the garden. The highest level houses a bedroom and a pair of children's rooms. The overall concept also includes a flat walkable roof accessible via a staircase, from which there is a nice view of the countryside.
The house has walls made of ceramic blocks, and the monolithic reinforced concrete ceiling slabs have been left exposed. The façades are insulated to a high standard and are clad with slates made of weather-exposed Rheinzink in a slate gray shade. The house opens up with glazed areas toward the sunlit sides, not only providing a visual connection with the garden but also effectively utilizing solar gains during the spring and autumn; in the summer, sunlight is regulated by external blinds.
Due to the small footprint of the house, it was possible to dedicate the rest of the plot to an ornamental garden, which is arranged according to the original sloping terrain and the height differences leveled by retaining walls along the edge of the lowest flat area of the yard.