COUNTRYSIDE HOMESTEAD
status
study
year
2025
location
The Czech Republic
team
Janosch Welzien, Filip Hermann, Štěpánka Úlehlová, Magdaléna Sovjáková
The complex consists of five small buildings—structures A to E—arranged around a spacious courtyard.
The overall concept is based on simplicity, the use of natural materials (wood, ceramics, stone), and respect for the historical setting. This creates a cohesive whole that naturally connects the old and the new—the original structure of the farmhouse and contemporary requirements for comfortable and sustainable living.
Each building has its own specific character derived from the historical context and the needs of the new users.
Building A serves as a family house. The ground floor contains the living area with a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and a winter garden. The attic is designed to accommodate sleeping areas.
Building B is conceived as an open multifunctional space intended for craft activities or cooking, complemented by a small bathroom.
Buildings C and D include a guest room, storage space, and a technical room. Together with the new Building E, they are connected by a terrace, whose covered section can also function as a small stage or an outdoor living area.
Building E, located on the site of the former barn, is a new structure inspired by traditional rural barn forms. The aim of the design was to complement the complex with a contemporary house that fits into the surrounding structure in both expression and scale. The house features a traditional 45° roof pitch and a wooden gable, naturally referencing the original architecture. Generous glazing facing the courtyard and the orchard opens the house to the landscape.
In terms of layout, Building E is designed as a two-storey structure. The ground floor includes a living space with kitchen and dining area, two bedrooms, an entrance hall, and a bathroom. The upper floor contains one large bedroom, a bathroom, and an open balcony. Daylight is provided through façade openings only, without the use of roof windows, which reinforces the traditional architectural expression of the building.
The overall concept is based on simplicity, the use of natural materials (wood, ceramics, stone), and respect for the historical setting. This creates a cohesive whole that naturally connects the old and the new—the original structure of the farmhouse and contemporary requirements for comfortable and sustainable living.
Each building has its own specific character derived from the historical context and the needs of the new users.
Building A serves as a family house. The ground floor contains the living area with a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and a winter garden. The attic is designed to accommodate sleeping areas.
Building B is conceived as an open multifunctional space intended for craft activities or cooking, complemented by a small bathroom.
Buildings C and D include a guest room, storage space, and a technical room. Together with the new Building E, they are connected by a terrace, whose covered section can also function as a small stage or an outdoor living area.
Building E, located on the site of the former barn, is a new structure inspired by traditional rural barn forms. The aim of the design was to complement the complex with a contemporary house that fits into the surrounding structure in both expression and scale. The house features a traditional 45° roof pitch and a wooden gable, naturally referencing the original architecture. Generous glazing facing the courtyard and the orchard opens the house to the landscape.
In terms of layout, Building E is designed as a two-storey structure. The ground floor includes a living space with kitchen and dining area, two bedrooms, an entrance hall, and a bathroom. The upper floor contains one large bedroom, a bathroom, and an open balcony. Daylight is provided through façade openings only, without the use of roof windows, which reinforces the traditional architectural expression of the building.