A Cute Cabin Serves Up the Simple Life for a Couple Looking to Escape the City

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Project Details:

Location: Nižbor, Czech Republic

Architect: System Recovery Architect

General Contractor: Martinice Group

Year: 2021

Footprint: 979 square feet

Photographer: Helena Linova

From the Architects: "The house was designed for a couple seeking a weekend getaway in the woods to balance their busy everyday lives in the Czech capital.The site is located near Žloukovice village in Křivoklátsko, a protected landscape area.

"Because it’s protected, there are strong regulations all the new houses built here have to follow. The rules determine the slope of a gable roof, the orientation of the roof ridge, and even demand a lateral entrance into the building, vertical timber cladding, and so forth. The new houses have to be built on the grounds of former cabins and are allowed to exceed the previously built up area, but only slightly. 

"Our aim was to work with the feeling of being in between the southern and northern part of the surrounding forest and keep the interior private from the neighbors to the east and west. We wanted the house connect to the scenery as much as possible while following all the regulations and a tight budget.Therefore, the house is designed as a small, simple gable roofed timber house. 

"On the ground floor, the living room and kitchen open through large windows toward the southern and northern woods. The large window in the southern facade can fully slide into the wall, merging the outer and inner living space. In the attic, there are opposing windows in the southern and northern facades, so the primary bedroom feels like being in between the northern and southern woods as well. The square windows frame the forest scenery, appearing like paintings that change throughout the year.

"The home’s footprint is roughly 480 square feet, but still meets all the clients’ needs, including hosting family and friends, for a simple yet comfortable life."