jiří příhoda curves coastal dwelling to sit on the edge of the sea
photos by martin polak

 

 

 

conceived as the first in the series of dwellings for the coast, ‘hermitage 2’ responds to the desire for a personal sanctuary within nature, designed to hover between the sea and surrounding landscape. czech designer jiří příhoda has formed the sensually sculpted structure so those within may observe the interface between the two elements from above. a simply shaped interior allows time for reflection and contemplation, framed by expansive glass windows revealing both water and land on either side. presented at prague designblok 2014 within the courtyard of colloredo-mansfeld palace — and winner of the prestigious editors award for exceptional achievement outside of category — ‘hermitage’ unites architecture and art as a physical space for meditation within the natural world.

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
‘hermitage’ placed within the courtyard of colloredo-mansfeld palace for prague designblok

 

 

 

for its structural realization, and most ideal placement directly at the edge of the coast, the dwelling’s two distinct chambers rise above the sea line in opposing directions. this provides an atmosphere for inhabitants to be fully surrounded by the water’s surface on one side, and rising mountains on the other.

 

one enters the ‘hermitage’ through a large window of the sleeping area. within, the building is divided into a study — whose quarter-cylindrical ceiling and longitudinal window rotates toward the mainland — and a bedroom space — whose quarter-cylindrical floor is lowered towards the water. between these two sections is the neck, connecting the two neighboring quarter cones constructed contrary to each other along the vertical axis, deliberately hindering movement between the two parts in order to emphasize our physicality.

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
stairs lead inhabitants from the first to second floors

 

 

 

the physical refinement of the object is achieved with interlocking composite sandwich panels, mechanically linked so that the need for an additional built piece is eliminated. the composite sheets are composed of two, thin, edge mantles — vacuum glued plates with a shear rigid central core. this imbues the panel technology with new features such as sound and thermal insulation, while achieving an extremely stiff yet light segment with shear stability and static strength. metallic surfaces left intentionally exposed in various places enhances the buoyancy of the whole structure. ‘this gives the sculptural-architectural object a ‘lightness of being’ in remembrance of the other ‘panel’ technology.’ příhoda describes.

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
metallic surfaces left intentionally exposed enhances the buoyancy of the whole structure

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
space beneath the stairs provides a place for books and magazines

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
the sweeping form curves using only one piece of material

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
interior spaces lit from within
image © designboom

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
the physical refinement of the object is achieved with interlocking composite sandwich panels

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
the panel technology comprises new features such as sound and thermal insulation

jiri prihoda forms glass dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
set within the historic courtyard in prague’s city center

 

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jiří příhoda curves dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
 
jiří příhoda curves dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
 
jiří příhoda curves dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast
 
jiří příhoda curves dwelling to sit on the edge of a coast