HOUSE BEHIND THE WALL

CTU in Prague - Faculty of Civil Engineering

Project idea

The townhouse as a refuge. A place that provides peace and privacy but remains connected to the outside world. The House Behind the Wall was created in response to a specific site in Prague 6, between Na Vlčovce Street and the large green space after the demolition of the Hotel Praha. Here, between the memory of the historic homestead and the brutalist legacy of the 20th century, a new space for a temporary but full life is being created.

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND
The site has a significant terrain gradient and its current form is the result of the technical and symbolic layer of the demolition of the Hotel Praha. The assignment was to create a family house for medium to long term rental for visiting academic professors coming to Prague with their families. The result is a house that can stand up to the market as a regular property, but with the scope and quality of urban living.

CONCEPT: BETWEEN THE WALLS
The fundamental element of the design was the so-called “Milan Wall”, a surviving piece of structure from the Hotel Praha that remained on the site. This wall became the inspiration and starting point for the design of the house itself. The exposed concrete walls are not only a structural element, but also a framework for the life that takes place between them. They define the space, protect privacy and also form a boundary between the city and the garden.

Project description

The house is designed as a space for quiet work and family life in a green retreat in the middle of the city. The living space on the ground floor is designed spaciously and connects the kitchen, dining room, living area and lounge with direct contact with the garden. The space has an open feel, but thanks to the concrete wall system it remains protected from the surroundings and retains an intimate atmosphere.

The garden surrounds the house on three sides and functions as an additional living room with the possibility of sitting, working outside or children playing. Upstairs, above the living area, is a study that offers peace and a view of the greenery. The top floor then forms a full family area with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a multifunctional space that can serve as a studio, guest room or playroom.

Overall, the house works with varying degrees of openness and enclosure, from completely private interiors to sheltered views to moments of surprising insight outside. The space is both soft and alive thanks to the vegetation, natural light and materials used, as well as the structure of the terrain itself, which shapes and grounds the house with its elevation.

Technical information

The load-bearing structure consists of an inserted steel skeleton, which is skinned with concrete and glass. The combination of transparent and solid responds to the need for privacy and openness. The roof is designed as a flat green roof both for ecological and insulation reasons, but also as part of the landscape framework of the whole space.

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