The House with Seven Floors: Malý Chmel’s 'vertical cave of light' in Czech Republic

The House with Seven Floors sits atop a sloped site in one of the Czech Republic’s suburban landscapes amidst nature and modest houses. While it may not stand out from the rest of the homes in size, height or exterior design, its distinctive seven-level layout within an irregular pentagonal form sets it apart. Designed by 2016-established Czech architecture practice Malý Chmel for a young couple and their two children, the dwelling’s concept is based on creating a ‘vertical cave of light’, holding spaces of varied sizes, heights and degrees of illumination.

“The clients wanted a home that would not only reflect their active lifestyle but also provide an enriching and stimulating environment for their children to explore and play,” the Czech architects inform in the press release. With an appreciation for contemporary architecture, the client envisioned a comfortable, functional and spatially interesting residence within a limited budget. The Prague-based practice proposed a relatively compact house with just 63 sqm of base footprint on a 363 sqm plot to have ample space for outdoor activities while offering 143 sqm of functional floor space for the residents.

One of the earliest conceptual design sketches of the house shows the vertical progression of burrowed spaces that open up to invite natural light and ventilation.

The architects studied the volumes, forms and openings through several model explorations to materialise the concept. After numerous iterations, they divided the volume of the house into seven distinct levels, each exhibiting unique plan configurations, lighting conditions, views of the natural landscape and degrees of privacy. The refined conceptual model of the house demonstrated its identity and connection to its surrounding context alongside an interpersonal relationship between the interior spaces, shaped by a central void within the structure.

The residential design is defined by a load-bearing concrete architecture and a monochromatic interior design with raw concrete finished walls that exude strength and boldness. Distinct polygonal level plans and the staircase design create striking corners and edges in the spaces, visually contrasting with the serene views from the larch wood windows. “The interior design was a process and…an experiment, with the final form being refined in parallel with the construction,” states the studio in the press release. The residential architecture informs the character and aesthetics of the interiors as the raw structure of the modern home becomes a neutral canvas for family living.

A central quasi-helical steel staircase with a triangular footprint connects all the levels of the private residence, eliminating the concept of hallways and saving space while maintaining a steady circulation and spatial hierarchy. A few steps below the entrance of the house is the common area with kitchen, dining and living spaces overlooking the outdoor garden. To ensure safety and accessibility, the third and fourth levels are bedrooms for the children and the bathroom is conveniently located on the fifth level. Since the sixth and seventh floors provide more privacy and a quieter environment, they are ideal spaces for the home office and master bedroom.

The residence incorporates strategies of sustainability such as passive cooling to ensure thermal comfort in every season. The vertical spatial arrangement, exposed concrete walls and plentiful natural light reduce energy consumption and operational costs of the house. “The concrete structure’s thermal mass contributes to thermal comfort and stability within the indoor environment, requiring minimal heating during the year,” the architects remark. Using durable, affordable and low-maintenance materials, the house aims to reduce its long-term impact on the environment.

The House with Seven Floors showcases space efficiency while contemporarily interpreting the concept of a cave-like dwelling. The residential building features minimalist architecture and interior design, forming a cohesive identity due to the restrictive material palette of exposed concrete walls and glass windows. The levels pour into one another in a fluid movement, this uninterrupted flow creates an illusion of a singular, unified space enhancing a sense of spatial continuity and expansiveness, reinforcing the identity of the space.