House for Parents in Jeseniky

The architects decided to keep the granite walls of the barn as a memorial to the great stonework of the original inhabitants. However, the detached house, which was lined with mixed masonry of marl and bricks, was already ramshackle and could not be saved. Most of the stones were not taken to a landfill, but they were recycled and used as a filler for gabion fencing.

A new wood-building detached house was placed between the original granite walls of the barn. A ventilated gap was preserved between the new and the original building, which was covered from above by plating. The construction of the house was complemented transversely by the construction of a studio / garage. Between the house and the studio, a multifunctional open space was created, the centre of the entire plot.

The garden is now functionally divided into two parts. The utility part, with raised flower beds at the back, and the residential part, with a terrace and children's pool in the front. The original varieties of fruit trees are gradually planted on the plot. Step by step, other small buildings are added to the garden, such as a shed for wood and tools, or an oven for bread.

The house is intended for an elderly couple, parents of four already adult children, who have decided to fulfill their dream of living in a house with a garden after a lifetime spent in a concrete high-rise flat.

The house has no basement, one floor and an attic. The first floor is set for parents. There is an entry foyer, a bathroom, a utility room, a living room with a dining area and a kitchen, and a bedroom. The movement limits of residents in the future are expected, so the whole floor is without any thresholds and the wheelchair for disabled people is able to turn in the bathroom.

A staircase in the entry foyer leads to the residential attic. Here is one large room that serves as a bedroom for visitors, especially for children with grandchildren.

The beam system made of KVH (solid constructional wood) lumber was assembled with only a minimum of fasteners and the structure was insulated with blown cellulose. To improve the accumulation properties, the perimeter walls were lined with unfired bricks and plastered in the interior with clay plaster. The exterior is clad with charred spruce wood. This method of facade protection originally came from Japan (shou sugi ban).

The windows are wooden with insulating triple glazing and are covered with galvanized sheet metal. The roof is made of black folded sheet metal. The dominant feature of the eastern facade is also the exterior stainless-steel chimney. The house is complemented from the south by a stone terrace, which is shaded by a textile tarpaulin. Due to the overlap of the original barn walls from the south, but also due to the sliding shading from the east, there is no danger of the building overheating. The building meets low energy standards. Heating is provided by solid fuel stove; electric heating cables serve as a secondary source. The installation of solar panels is planned in the future.