Villa Stela

Assignment
A child on the way, an atelier in its infancy, deep into pockets and the question of family housing solutions on the table.
Parents provided us with part of a sunny garden, a former orchard.
The house was originally designed as a wooden structure using the “two by four” system. However, this changed with the offer of assistance from neighbor Jury, who is a mason, and thus the project was subsequently redesigned as a brick building. After all, the development in Staříč consists mainly of masonry buildings.

Location
The corner plot is located near the center of the village, in an organized development of family houses that were mainly built in the second half of the 20th century. A common characteristic, especially on the opposite hill, is the dense development with gables oriented perpendicularly to the sloping terrain and adherence to the building line. These principles, with a few exceptions, also appear on the street where the plot is located.
The gently sloping plot towards the south offers expansive views of the Beskydy Mountains, especially Lysá hora, and is accessible from the street on the northern side.

Concept
From the subsided coal area rises a black cubus. The form and original concept stem from a simple cuboid. An important aspect was to maintain the building line and a healthy setback distance from the neighboring house. This brought specific shaping to the mass in the design.
The northern façade follows the boundary of the site, creating a distinct break that evokes a defensive shield.
The break is paralleled in the southern façade of the house. The cantilevered part of the façade is oriented towards Lysá hora and opens up to the private garden… The resulting impression is a different perception of the scale of the building depending on the angle of observation.
Many passersby compare the house to a hut or cabin and mostly think it is a small house where a family of four can barely fit. However, once they step inside, they realize how the mass outside plays optical tricks...

Spatial Solution
The layout is divided by a cross axis into imaginary quarters. At the center is a staircase with a chimney and an installation core. We wanted the house to be as adapted to the topography of the site as possible, which created a variety of residential space inside. While a large dining table is the epicenter of all activities, the lower area with a sofa serves as a cozy reading nook, emphasized by the upholstered windowsill in the circular window.

The first floor is designed as a daytime zone with the technical background of the house and continuously connected spaces – the living room, dining room, and kitchen. The design emphasized the use of all available space. For example, a toilet is placed under the stairs, and additional storage spaces are accessible from the kitchen.
The second floor is a quiet zone – featuring two children's rooms, a bedroom, a corridor with storage spaces, and a bathroom.
The floors are connected by a single-flight staircase lined with a subtle concrete railing. The staircase turns at the bottom towards a built-in concrete monolith with three circular openings, whose monumentality is enhanced by how they protrude from the wall. This motif is also repeated in part of the living space. In addition to the lower residential space, the dining area is delineated by a concrete wall topped with a plywood board that transitions into the windowsill at the dining table. The windowsill serves as a bench when there are more visitors. The staircase railing features a similar detail at its termination.
In the kitchen, a large window is designed with a view of the street. The kitchen has a spacious stainless steel worktop that contrasts with the black lacquered pine plywood doors. An entrance to the terrace is proposed from the dining area, designed in two levels, corresponding to the internal layout of the house. The higher part is made of oak wood, while the lower part is paved with granite slabs.
Opening the kitchen window to the street also brought about an originally unplanned side effect. This is the interaction between the house's inhabitants and people passing by. Passersby usually greet the homeowners and smile at each other. The resulting interaction thus represents a departure from the local strong tendency to protect one's privacy.

Construction and Material Solution
The two-story structure is based on a monolithic reinforced concrete slab with two levels. It is built from ceramic blocks. On the first floor, monolithic sections with circular openings are inserted in place. The visible ceiling is made of reinforced concrete. The roof structure is lined with drywall inside, following the slope of the roof. A fine joint is acknowledged between the ceiling and the wall.
The house is insulated with mineral wool, which is part of the ventilated façade. This is covered with charred spruce boards screwed onto a slanted frame. In contrast to the dark color of the façade, a light gray color was chosen, which is repeated on the aluminum frames of windows and door fillings, aluminum portals, and panels in the ceilings of the cantilevered parts of the house. The same color was also used for the roof's folded covering, including gutters and metal products.
The entrance is dominated by flush doors combined with corner stained glass without a structural frame. The base of the stained glass is a panel aligned with the glazing frame. The same detail is used for the entrance to the terrace.
Inside, a three-material combination prevails – concrete, pine plywood, and white plaster. Polished concrete floors are present in all rooms. The rings of growth from spruce bioboards are outlined in the ceiling above the first floor. The structure of brushed pine plywood is drawn into the visible portion of the concrete monoliths with circular openings. The wood pattern also shows in the walls lining the staircase.
Built-in furniture, including the kitchen, interior flush doors, and window sills, is made from pine plywood.