Czech studio Mar.s Architects drew on traditional mountain architecture when designing this house in the village of Malá Úpa, creating steep gables to help deal with heavy snowfall.
Named Family House Dolni? Mala? U?pa, the home is located within the mountainous Krkono?e National Park, which required Mar.s Architects to adhere to strict construction rules.
This led the Prague-based studio to reference the shapes and materiality of the area's typical stone and timber dwellings in its design.
Mar.s Architects drew on traditional mountain architecture when designing this house
"The main challenge was just to find a new form for a traditional local building to preserve the best of the history but at the same time maintain a high standard of 21st-century living," studio founder Martin ?enberger told Dezeen. "In general, we think that in these historically exposed locations, this is the best way to interact with the existing environment and further develop it in a very sensitive way," he continued.
Using an approach common to the area, a plinth made from local stone creates a level base for Family House Dolni? Mala? U?pa on its sloping site.
The home has steep gables to help deal with heavy snowfall
The plinth is topped by a steep gabled form designed to prevent heavy snow load. While the roof is lined with black aluminium, the walls are clad in vertical wooden planks that will weather and turn a silver-grey colour over time.
Set back slightly from the road ...