Family house in Olomouc

The modern house built in a villa district on the outskirts of a Moravian town is based on a simple geometric principle. The large glazing brings nature inside and extends the living space to the garden.

On a gently sloping plot with a southern orientation and a slight terrain slope towards a deciduous grove, the new owners, a family with two children, valued the quiet location and beautiful views the most. They originally approached the Donlič studio with a completed project for a simple house and wished to design the interior layout. "At first glance, it was clear that the layout would not be functional, the proposed building is not suitably positioned on the plot and has inappropriate proportions," explains architect Ivana Dombková. "By the end of our meeting, we agreed on an entirely new project." They agreed with the clients on the concept of a simple, low-maintenance house with a discreet and timeless architectural expression, prioritizing a comfortable solution without compromises in the interior, focusing on airy, relaxed spaces and quality natural materials. Given the requirements of the local building authority, a mono-pitched roof was assigned to the modern architecture.

Views and Sightlines
The building was shifted towards the northern edge of the plot to free up the sunny southern part of the garden. The core of the house consists of the main two-story "wing" on a rectangular base, oriented parallel to the northern border of the plot, where the access road leads. To the south, a smaller single-story section with a study is attached perpendicularly, together forming an L-shaped composition. The basic architectural idea is clear right at the entrance of the house, where two perpendicular communication, layout, and sight lines meet. The main line runs parallel to the northern boundary of the plot; on the ground floor, the kitchen, dining room, and living room flow smoothly into each other, with the axis of sight culminating in the panorama of the landscape visible in the distance through a large western window. The second line leads from the study directly south, continuing down the slope through the sightline towards the grove.
The living rooms on the southern and western sides seamlessly connect to the wooden terrace and further into the garden through large glazed surfaces. Uninterrupted views and the same level of flooring, terrace, and lawn enhance the idea of direct connection with nature. The arrangement on the upper floor is also based on a linear principle. Along the northern facade of the house, there is an access corridor, and the rooms have southern views, with the parents' bedroom featuring a large terrace on the roof of the study. "The owners originally wanted large rooms, but we succeeded in convincing them that a functional arrangement matters more than square meters. The resulting layout is proportional to the family's needs and does not take up excessive space," says Ivana Dombková.
The sober and matter-of-fact approach is also reflected in the interior of the house. Muted colors with dominant white playing the main role, clean geometric shapes, smooth surfaces, and a minimum of furniture create a calming impression, making the beautiful views outside stand out even more. The prerequisite that allows for this enjoyment of minimalism is sufficiently dimensioned support spaces of the house, especially thoughtfully designed storage areas hidden in a number of built-in closets. "I appreciate the owners' courage to confront the surrounding heterogeneous development, which bears the marks of what is called entrepreneurial baroque, and to build and complete in detail a modern house," concludes our visit with Ivana Dombková.