Villa Sidonius | Architecture M&T 1997

Villa Sidonius

Building and technological experiment over a steep slope

Author: Stempel & Tesar Architects

Photo: Filip Šlapal

Where: Central Bohemia Region, Czechia

A structural and technological experiment, Villa Sidonius looks like a steel footbridge, which over a steep slope in a rotated position points towards the best northern views and the southern sun.

The steep land of the villa is on the northern shady side of the terrain wave. It is one of the steepest and highest. This gives it a number of advantages as well as disadvantages or challenges to the assignment. The most beautiful views of the Berounka valley, lined with the hills of the Bohemian Karst and the skyline of the capital city of Prague in the background, are without a doubt its greatest jewel. Therefore, the effort was to provide this view in all living rooms from the best angle. The concept was based on the principle of hanging houses. Thus eliminating the disadvantages, exploiting the challenges and maximizing the value of the land. The form of the bridge structure on piers won out. The house thus resembles a steel footbridge that rests on a steep slope in a rotated position towards the best northern views and southern sun

The house is a static, structural and technological experiment. There was neither the space nor the desire to solve the building with traditional methods, but to look for ways that would shift thinking and test the latest technological products and equipment on the market. From windows from Swiss company Air-lux with patented seals to compressors to cooling and heating connected to borehole heat pumps to ensure a comfortable indoor climate all year round in a house with a lower storage capacity.

The house is entered through an underground tunnel past the garage with a fitness room and studio. The tunnel ends at the base of one of the pillars at the elevator, which takes the residents up to the living level, passing the intermediate exit to the utility room. The heart of the house is the comfortable living room with dining room and kitchen, which seamlessly connect to the south terrace. The latter connects the interior with the vegetated terrain and the sunny space of the upper garden with swimming pool. The two executed parts of the bridge hide two different worlds - on one side the children's rooms, on the other the master bedroom with bathroom and views.

The architects used the complete Minimal / Minimal 2.0 series for the windows and doors.

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