terracotta gable roof tops martin zizka's organic czech house

martin zizka fuses heritage and contemporary living

Fusing local heritage and contemporary spatial dynamics, Casa De Mi Luna nestles into the scenic landscape of the Český Kras nature reserve in Karlštejn, Czech Republic. Realized by Martin Zizka of Studio Circle Growth, the residence provides an idyllic retreat for an Argentinian-Czech family seeking respite from the bustle of Prague.

Drawing from its context and adhering to local regulations dictating shapes and hues, the space blends with the region’s local vernacular by way of form and materiality. The house’s outer form resonates with local heritage, with a simple symmetrical gable roof, rounded eaves, and classic ‘bobrovka’ clay roof tiles. The exterior is further enveloped in a palette of natural materials, clad in traditional terracotta roof tile, lime render, and local larch. Meanwhile, the interiors are dominated by wood and earth, with soft touches of traditional blue, green and terracotta tiles.

all images by Fredrik Frendin

locally sourced and natural materials shape casa de mi luna

Architect Martin Zizka has based Casa De Mi Luna’s program on an organic and playful open plan which enables the individual spaces to be simultaneously differentiated and connected. The ground floor, defined by its flowing connectivity, finds structure through a segmented staircase which curves upwards into the double-height second-floor landing. This not only as a conduit between levels but also separates the ground floor into distinct yet open and interconnected functional zones. Two symmetrically poised rooms on this second level, boasting east and west orientations, feature arched ceilings as a result of a creative collar tie solution for the rafters.

The fireplace, adorned with green tiles reminiscent of historical mass ovens of the region, occupies a strategic nexus between the living and dining realms to spread warmth evenly throughout the house. This further heats water, channeling it to a large tank stored in the utility room. As temperatures drop, the warm water permeates the walls where the clay plaster plays the role of a venerable thermal reservoir, releasing heat like an ancient mass oven. The clay plaster further regulates the moisture of the interior environment as well as the straw EcoCocon panels.

The house is built using prefabricated straw and timber panels which form the core, assembled efficiently on-site. Three centimeters of clay plaster envelope the interior, regulating moisture and temperature. The final layer is a soft white clay stucco along the internal surfaces, while the exterior harmonizes lime render and larch cladding.

the structure nestles into the scenic landscape of the Český Kras nature reserve in Karlštejn, Czech Republic

the entire central bay is open, infusing the home with light

the staircase is the heterogeneous backbone of the interior landscape

Casa De Mi Luna fuses heritage and contemporary living

the floor to ceiling corner window is a central feature of the dining space

each functional zone is differentiated with by color within the open plan

arched ceilings emerge as a result of a creative collar tie solution for the rafters

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project info:

name: Casa De Mi Luna
architecture: Martin Zizka
location: Karlštejn, Czech Republic

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom