Development Project
The task given by the investor was to design three villa houses for a development project on a slightly sloping plot of land measuring 2000 m2 with a southern orientation. The plot was divided into three almost identical parcels with an emphasis on preserving as much existing greenery as possible. The land is located in the old settlement in the center of Sulice village near Prague. The surrounding area consists of old low-rise buildings and relatively diverse greenery.
Slight slope as an advantage
The main idea of the architectural design was to utilize the natural slope of the land, embedding the houses into the terrain and taking advantage of the views of the landscape through the existing structures while maintaining a pleasant scale for the newly created ensemble. The houses are positioned so that the access road on the northern boundary of the plot connects to the first above-ground floor, allowing better integration of the complex with the surrounding buildings in terms of height. The second floor is then located one level lower and integrated into the slope, creating the desired connection with the lower residential part of the garden, which is level-separated from the access road.
Open living room with a garden view
House A and House B have their living areas on the ground floor at the level of the access road. The daytime living zone is designed as an open living room with a dining area and kitchen, with the main glazed areas facing south, providing views of the garden and landscape. The living room seamlessly connects to the terrace on the ground floor level, from which one can descend gently to the lower part of the garden. On the ground floor, there is also a guest room with a study, a bathroom, and a garage. Stairs connecting to the living room vertically link both floors. In the first underground floor, which opens entirely to the garden façade, there are two children’s rooms with a bathroom, a storage room, a utility room, and a bedroom with its own bathroom.
House C is visually connected to the two previous houses, but individual floors have reversed functions, and the terrace on the ground floor is located on the eastern side to minimize visual disturbance among the residents of the complex. The first above-ground floor accommodates a garage, an entrance foyer, a utility room, two children’s rooms with a bathroom, and a bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. In the first underground floor, whose façade is completely oriented towards the south and open to the garden, there is an open living room with a kitchen and dining area, a guest room with a study, a storage room, a utility room, and a bathroom with a toilet. This layout was chosen because House C is located near the northern boundary of the plot and can utilize the largest area of the garden.
The ensemble is visually unified through the use of the same façade materials, including anthracite plaster, Siberian larch cladding, and dark sheet metal.
All the houses visually communicate with each other and form a harmonious whole.
Sustainable architecture
The project also aims to meet today’s requirements for sustainable architecture. Each house has a green extensive roof. Retention tanks for rainwater will be installed in the area. All houses are equipped with preparations for outdoor blinds and will be insulated to passive standard. Structurally, they consist of a masonry load-bearing system made of Porotherm blocks with mineral wool insulation. The ceiling structures are designed using prefabricated reinforced concrete panels. Window openings will be fitted with aluminum frames with triple glazing.
