Header: Matej Hakár
Nested in the densely wooded part of the village near the lake, Jevany Villa shyly emerges from the forest. From the street, the passers-by can see the ground floor of the residency, but moving on to the garden will reveal the entire structure – an open and spacious two-storey house with car parks on the roof.
The villa in the forest
The design of the house accompanies the slope of the terrain as well as the needs of the client. The western and eastern wings are connected through the central staircase space known as the “torso“. The red outdoor colour is selected to complement the surrounding greenery. Visually, the house dissents into the forest.
David Kraus’s connection to the area
Architect David Kraus from Architektura, who already worked in the area, aligned the house with the challenging terrain. The earth that descends from north to south allows access from above. The building was placed precisely on the long plot of the building, bordered by a forest road used by the residents. After removing the original house, a large pit 3.6 meters lower than the road remained. Mature trees stand up to ten meters below, while a setback of almost five meters from the adjacent street leaves enough room to create a large entrance area.
Five levels of Jevany Villa
The house opens toward the forest in the southern area while remaining closed to the north. Almost invisible from the street, the house is embedded into the slope, and moving on in that direction will feel like entering a different world. The central staircase hall is the backbone of the structure. The house can be divided into five operational levels:
- at the forest level (the day and night zone)
- the street level (covered parking, central entrance space, and a bright area with a study)
Parking on the roof, living area at street level
The roof parking immediately evokes an industrial feel with its sawtooth design. Composed of raw red steel, the parking can accommodate up to three cars. The entrance space in the centre of the house connects the two levels. The straight staircase is dominant alongside a recessed illuminated railing. The curved wall guides the visitors through the living area while introducing an interesting visual quality when seen from the outside. A bright study located on the street level also serves as a guest room or gym, while the day zone hosts spaces for living, cooking, and relaxing. The living area encompasses two floors.
Day zone and the quiet zone
The long residential corridor links the day zone to the quiet zone. The parents’ bedroom, featuring a large walk-in closet and bathroom, and the children’s room, are connected to the exterior, together with the forest views. The corridor leads to the garden, which can be accessed through an independent entrance. Although the red colour palette dominates the space, there are multi-coloured areas, including the kitchen, where black shelves, white doors, and steel fireplaces correspond with the reddish stone surfaces.
Enveloped by the surrounding forest, the Jevany Villa represents a functional merger of nature and man-made structures. The villa brought a modern industrial expression to the forest-rich village with solitary family houses.
Technical Sheet
Studio Architektura: David Kraus, Miroslav Styk, www.archi.cz
Completion year: 2025
Built-up area: 218 m²
Usable floor area: 338 m²
Photographer: Matej Hakár
Structural project: KR projekt [Kateřina Ryvolová]
Interior design: Jan Waltr
Contractor: Radek Trojánek
Featured brands: OKNA.EU, Wienerberger, ZNAČKOVÁ OKNA
