ADR architects' kostelec house takes shape as two stretching concrete slabs

ADR architects presents its ‘kostelec’ house in the czech republic, defined by its single, stretching volume. the site was once occupied by an old brick factory complex. after flying overhead in a helicopter, the owner became fascinated by the site and instantly bought it. the design of the house is the winning entry of a small competition held between three competing architects. the winning design by ADR makes use of the house’s openings to ensure views toward the individual peaks of the czech bohemian uplands. all rooms are organized around a central corridor, and look out through glazed walls toward the distant czech landscape.

images by boysplaynice | @boysplaynice

to preserve the memory of the original factory building in the design of its kostelec house, ADR architects left only the chimney. the rest of the factory was dismantled, its bricks reused for the construction of the new house’s wine cellar.

 meanwhile, the fundamental design concept is marked by an inconspicuous character when viewed from a distance, along with its functional simplicity. these principles led to a solution featuring several horizontal masses. individual buildings are nestled on the plot in a logical layout — the villa sits on the edge of the slope with views of the czech bohemian uplands while standing on the downwind side of the terrain.

the kostelec house’s monolithic, single story volume is expressed by ADR architects with carefully chosen stone and wood surfaces. the design emphasizes a simple and clean interior, closely connecting indoor and outdoor space while respecting the context and needs of the occupant. the volume is defined by two prominent concrete slabs, forming the floor and the ceiling, and then functionally divided into five sections, each with a covered terrace. from the outside, the terraces rhythmically divide the silhouette of the house into smaller segments. all rooms look out through glazed walls toward the surrounding landscape. the design of the roof garden also received special attention in order to improve the bird’s eye view of the villa when, for instance, the owner arrives by helicopter.

project info:

project title: kostelec house

architecture: ADR architects | @adr_architects

location: kostelec nad ohří, 413 01 budyně nad ohří, czech republic

lead architects: aleš lapka, petr kolář

design team: jana zoubková, anna matoušková, walter schubert

client: michaela maršíková, tomáš maršík

photography: boysplaynice | @boysplaynice