FORESTER’S COTTAGE IN THE KRKONOŠE MOUNTAINS

A sensitive restoration of a timbered cottage and a new interpretation of a farm building. The contrast between tradition and contemporary timber architecture creates a unified whole that offers space for social life as well as a peaceful retreat with a view of the landscape.

Area 170 m²
Project year 2017

Chief architects Zuzana & Jan Kurz

Photo Lucie van Vuuren
Completion year 2018 – 2020

Area 170 m²
Project year 2017
Chief Architects Zuzana & Jan Kurz
Photo Lucie van Vuuren
Completion year 2018 – 2020

For a long time, we asked ourselves how to approach the original timbered cottage and the adjacent farm building, both of which had suffered from many insensitive interventions over the years. Eventually, we decided to take an unconventional, at times even slightly eccentric, approach.

We began by carefully removing the layers that had been added to the original structure over time. Our goal was to gather as many reference materials from the pre-war period as possible in order to understand the construction’s structure and clarify the ideas that would form the final concept. The resulting concept is based on the sensitive renewal of the original timbered house and offering a completely new interpretation of the traditional farm building. Throughout the design process, we played with the contrasts between traditional and modern architecture. In the original cottage, we deliberately acted unconventionally, while in the clean, modern timber structure which reinterprets the farm building, we followed traditional forms and craftsmanship.

The two buildings have been connected into a single, harmonious whole. The lively, social part of the house, as well as cozy evenings by the fireplace, take place in the central space of the timbered cottage. In contrast, the modern farm building provides a tranquil refuge for rest and sleep. Wide stone steps lead directly into the main living room, where a stunning view opens through a large glazed wall facing the blooming northern meadow. The high open truss above the room is striking, intersected by a distinctive vertical element that conceals storage, facilities, and even a fireplace. In the attic, you find a small reading nook – a quiet corner to withdraw and breathe.

Materials

Wood • Stone • Hlína • Concrete • Glass • Dřevovlákno • Šindel

Materiály