Cottage under birches

Location: Liberec, CZE

Client: Private

Year: 2023

Area: 93 m2

Author: Jan Mach, Anna Hrušová, Tobiáš Hrabec

Often the fog rolls down the Jizera valley, so heavy that the chimneys of old cottages are not destroyed. That's probably why all the roofs are so close to the ground. We drive up the valley of the White Stream and watch the old cottages succumbing to time and resting in their ancient wisdom. It's a sad sight at times, especially when the new houses stare with dull, expressionless expressions at these old cottages. No lessons, no humility. We have another task ahead of us. To listen to the story of the old white creek cottage and follow it up with a new story.

A clear warning for respecting the local landscape are the teeth of the Frýdlant battlements, which were set out before the work began. We will be humble. We have a wonderful starting position. The hillside with the cottage faces south into a wide valley. It rises gently to a dense forest. Adjacent to it is a descending meadow. These relationships predetermine the location of the house.

We listen to the old cottage, but it's somehow quiet. I guess she wants to take all the secrets with her. Unfortunately, it's really in a bad state now, so we tread quietly and listen more carefully.

Behold. An old granite well with an oak bottom. It must have been dug out. First spark. Crafted raw granite is a boost we're sure to get to the house. Stove, second fire. They'll be the warm heart of the house. The low attic with its small windows crouched in the branches reinforces the sense of security, but also of mischief. We need to get that in there too. But we need to breathe more and we definitely need to get more light into the first floor and connect it to the beautiful meadow where the dew soaks cheerfully into the socks.

We tried to position the house advantageously to the orientation of the sun and due to the nature of the land to create a specific atmosphere around the house. The yard is oriented to the east. This is the main access and driveway to the house. The kitchen with the communal dining room leans towards the west side. It flows out smoothly onto the patio and spills out into the meadow. The living room faces the woods through the birch trees. This direction creates a sheltered nook between the woods and the house with potential for shenanigans and barbecues.

Two principles were important for us in the layout of the house. Letting the meadow bloom through the house and at the same time creating a cosy and warm place where the stove is the heart of the house. It is possible to roll on them, dry mushrooms and wet socks from the meadow under the house and everything important happens in the immediate vicinity around.

We use materials that are found on the site. Granite is a cold stone, but we work it so smoothly that it is warm to the touch. The wood softens the severity. We wrap the cold to contrast the warm.

The cross visual flow through the house is essential for both floors. Large openings provide light to the first communal floor. On the second floor, the communication core shines through the glass partition. It has the beautiful property of changing colour during the day, so that at sunrise it is azure blue and at sunset it glows red.

The crouching rooms look curiously into all sides of the valley. A footbridge high up near the ceiling tells the cunning men the location of one more patty. But it's only for the brave who aren't afraid of barn ladders and what lurks in the dark corner around the corner.

A second object is being put in place. An auxiliary small house capable of independent operation. Slightly tucked and crouched in the grass. It can be used for cooking, sleeping, but most of all for sauna. All you have to do is jump out and cool off in the bathtub overlooking the dense forest.

We started at the meadow and ended at the forest. As with the house, we didn't want to create a material barrier, but a smooth flow through the landscape with a stop at the warm stove. But still to be in the presence of the blueberries behind the house, the deer down in the meadow. Frýdlant Cimber on the other side of the valley. And to observe everything directly from the crouched comfort of a cozy house.