Designed by Šercel Švec s.r.o. and completed in 2021, this family house was conceived with the idea of symbiotic architecture.

Symbiotic architecture is an approach to design that emphasizes a harmonious relationship between a building and its natural environment. The goal is to create structures that not only coexist with their surroundings but also enhance and benefit from them.

The concept includes integrating natural elements into the design, such as using local materials, garden rooftops, and ensuring that the building’s orientation and layout maximize natural light and ventilation. Symbiotic architecture often includes sustainable features like rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and energy-efficient systems to minimize the environmental impact. The use of wood products lend well to this approach and this project is a great example.

The client’s vision was for a lasting, modern home that harmonizes with its environment. Situated at the end of a street near a golf course, the house is built on a sloping site. This unique location allowed the architects to design a single-storey, flat-roofed structure that naturally integrates into the slope.

The entrance to the house is from the North side, connected to a separate carport and a small warehouse. This design creates an inner space between the interior and exterior, enhanced by a covered terrace. The roofing in this area provides protection against bad weather from the North and prevents possible overheating from the South, ensuring a comfortable living environment throughout the year.

Inside, the house features an open-plan layout that includes an entrance area, living room, dining room, kitchen, and workspace. This main interior space has direct contact with the garden, allowing for full utilization of the outdoor area. The daily living area is slightly elevated compared to the rest of the house, creating a sense of openness and connection with the natural surroundings. The South and West sides of the house are more divided and recede according to the land’s geometry, with the main bedroom, children’s rooms, and dining room oriented to the West. This facade is lower and slightly dug into the hillside, with windows at ground level, providing a unique and intimate connection with the landscape.

The northern facades feature bathrooms illuminated by skylights, ensuring ample natural light throughout the day. The use of monochrome materials emphasizes straight lines, rhythm, and the gradation of the architecture.

The exterior combines wood, coarse, and fine plaster, all tuned to white, creating a clean and modern aesthetic. Inside, the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) adds warmth and contrast, enhancing the overall design.

The use of photovoltaic panels provide renewable energy, while a rainwater retention tank aids in water conservation. The green roof not only adds to the aesthetic appeal but also ensures thermal stability, particularly in the summer months. The vegetation on the roof helps reduce the surface temperature, contributing to the building’s passive stability. This is complemented by an accumulation base plate, screen shielding, and a ground exchanger, all of which work together to maintain a comfortable indoor climate.

Designed by Šercel Švec s.r.o., led by architects Ing. arch. Jakub Kypus and Ing. Ľuboš Mesarč this modern family home was completed in 2021.

Awards

This project was recognized with the prestigious 12th Annual A+Awards, highlighting its excellence in residential architecture and its commitment to pushing classical boundaries while respecting the environment.

Text provided by the architect

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