Villa Sophia

Villa Sophia functions as the center of the Universe, around which all life revolves. When a young couple decided to return from Canada to the Czech Republic, both wanted to return to Prague's social life as well. The house, which would allow them to combine work and living in parallel yet completely separate, had to meet many conditions. It is built for living, which is reflected in the layout, chosen materials, and the integration of technologies into a unified autonomous system with artificial intelligence.

Location
The house is situated on the edge of the Troja slope overlooking a nature reserve with a unique view of Prague. Besides a plethora of various birds, wild boar and deer occasionally wander into the lush garden. The panorama begins with the green star of the Dejvice Hotel International and stretches all the way to the bubble of the Libeň gas holder. The view is also a dominant feature for the neighboring houses; to avoid blocking it for others, Villa Sophia was kept as low as possible on the street side.

House
The descending terrain allows the house to open to the south and offers three basic composed views. From the living space to the garden, from the bedroom to the treetops, and from the study to the city panorama. The double entrance from the northern blind façade, specific to both the living and working areas, primarily serves visitors. For the residents, the house begins with a garage, from which its spatial spiral unfolds. The garage is thus a fully functional part of the house and practically serves as the entrance hall. In the spirit of Palladian villas, the square footprint is divided into 9 fields, which spiral up the slope and are concluded with the most public segment of the house, namely the working part. The main living space is accessed at garden level, and the central staircase hall allows for a smooth entry into the upper parts of the house as one ascends the slope. Access for residents and guests is antagonistic. It allows for a different experience of spatial perception or the use of the stair slope, whether descending or ascending, according to the opposite ends of the spiral. Additionally, the staircase crosses a barrier-free ramp, which further emphasizes the overall functionality of the house as a lifelong place for living, in line with the clients' requirements. It develops movement in the early stages of life and facilitates functioning towards its end.

Construction
Many structural and material decisions were motivated by an emphasis on sustainability, durability, and the tactile sturdiness of the house. What can be solved once should not be reopened in the future, wasting further time and energy. Experts from the Czech Technical University were continuously involved in the preparation and construction process. Material samples were tested for strength, elasticity, and chemical stability. The monolith of the house was cast precisely so that the windows fit into an articulated façade, which wraps around the house and geometrically connects its lowest and highest points.

Environment
The ambition of the clients—a cultural anthropologist and a computer scientist—was a functional house without compromises, which corresponded to their views on the integration and management of technologies. However, the user perspective on interaction with the environment does not align with reality and procedural norms in construction. Thanks to the integration platform of the sysloop® system and the artificial intelligence from EMPYREUM Information Technologies, long-standing limitations have been overcome. The system allows for the connection of rigid construction technologies, soft unstructured data, and the constantly changing context of the web. The unique degree of interconnection between values and technologies opens up countless possibilities. All layers of the house are designed with a focus on generality. For example, all lights in the house can be controlled across the full spectrum (RGBW), allowing the house to gradually eliminate the blue component for better sleep in the evening. The doors move automatically on linear magnets, but also serve as a fully functional part of the natural ventilation system. On the concert grand piano, the house can accompany the user's play, independently play any composition, and even generate melodies using its own artificial intelligence. And if it were really cold, it could use an oven as a supplementary heat source. The house allows for, but does not require, active control. It learns to optimally respond to often conflicting circumstances, takes externalities into account, and does not deny technological potential or sustainability.

Garden
The house is exposed from above, and therefore its roof blooms with various colors throughout the year. The green roof not only practically contributes to the energy balance of the house but also adds aesthetic value. The ornament of opening stars translates into the terraces around the house and diffuses into the garden.