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

The concrete residence in the Czech Republic's suburbs has seven levels connected by a central staircase, prioritising space efficiency and minimalist design.

by Bansari PaghdarPublished on : Nov 23, 2024

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.

  • While the residence visually merges with its context, it challenges typical spatial hierarchy in its interior design | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    While the residence visually merges with its context, it challenges typical spatial hierarchy in its interior design Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings
  • The dwelling sits on a sloped site of 363 sqm with a compact footprint of 63 sqm to provide maximum area for outdoor activities | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    The dwelling sits on a sloped site of 363 sqm with a compact footprint of 63 sqm to provide maximum area for outdoor activities Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings

“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.

  • The common area of the residence is located on the second level, which opens up to the outdoor landscape | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    The common area of the residence is located on the second level, which opens up to the outdoor landscape Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings
  • The kitchen is minimally designed along a wall to allow maximum space for activities | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    The kitchen is minimally designed along a wall to allow maximum space for activities Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings

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 architects designed and incorporated details in the spaces while the house was under construction | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    The architects designed and incorporated details in the spaces while the house was under construction Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings
  • Interpersonal spatial relationships during and after construction | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    Interpersonal spatial relationships during and after construction Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings
  • The quasi-helical staircase of steel connects all the spaces, saving valuable area by eliminating the need for corridors | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    The quasi-helical staircase of steel connects all the spaces, saving valuable area by eliminating the need for corridors Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings
  • The furniture, decorative elements and the residents take the central stage against the neutral, exposed concrete surfaces of the house | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    The furniture, decorative elements and the residents take the central stage against the neutral, exposed concrete surfaces of the house Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings

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.

  • Initial sketch of the ‘vertical cave of light’ | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    Initial sketch of the ‘vertical cave of light’ Image: Courtesy of Malý Chmel
  • With the help of models, the architects experimented with volumes and openings to solidify the concept | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    With the help of models, the architects experimented with volumes and openings to solidify the concept Image: Courtesy of Malý Chmel
  • The architects studied spatial and contextual relationships of the final design through model exploration | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
    The architects studied spatial and contextual relationships of the final design through model exploration Image: Courtesy of Malý Chmel

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.

Sections of the house | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | STIRworld
Sections of the house Image: Courtesy of Malý Chmel

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.

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STIR STIRworld Designed by Prague-based practice Malý Chmel for a couple of athletes and their children, the residence features interconnected and visually striking spaces | House with Seven Floors | Malý Chmel | ST

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

The concrete residence in the Czech Republic's suburbs has seven levels connected by a central staircase, prioritising space efficiency and minimalist design.

by Bansari Paghdar | Published on : Nov 23, 2024