2014Rodinný dům Košťálov

project 2008 / realised 2014

Previously independent Košťálov is now part of village Jenčice. It lies at the southeastern foot of the basalt hill Košťál. Houses of the village rise along the municipal road more than a mile northwest towards the castle ruins Košťálov on top of the hill (about 500m).
"View from the top of the hill, especially during the spring, when fruit trees are in bloom, is unforgettable" – stands written in the History section of the village´s website.
Nevertheless, we could not have avoided a long dispute with the management of the Protected Landscape Area Czech Central Mountains about compliance ot the house with the landscape character. Project took place only through endurance and strong will of the builder. Finally, decision of the Ministry of Environment changed the original negative opinion of the PLA office.

concept

Builder´s intention was simple and clear - to build a house in his native village and to farm. The house was supposed to be simple, solid and as far as possible „obvious“ in its place. We wanted to build on generations of anonymous builders and masons, who worked naturally and confidently, with the stone (mainly limestone and basalt) and with brick, who built here many simply beautiful houses and farm buildings.
At present, there are many such houses, barns, stables, granaries close to destruction.
People do not know the original purpose of these buildings and its original function is not demanded anymore. These places are therefore losing its content and no one cares to protect them. They lose roof, later only perimeter wall remain, then base and then... nothing. New houses are being built at bright colors, "maintenance free" best "passive" and largely with no spirit. The ability to distinguish the important from the unimportant and the good from the bad is from our experience (not only) with the conservation authority (see, for example, dispute above) considerably weakened.
Ground floor, carries on both long sides the skylights that form irregular edges of the roof. These can freely refer to the jagged silhouette of the Košťálov ruins or Hazmburk castle ruins - two dominant "supervisors" of the house. Horizontality connects house to the village, vertical window openings then to the hill Kostalov and further.
Stone cladding of the house is made with stone from a nearby demolished barn. It is a symbolic as well as physicall example of the continuity of this place.


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