"House behind the wall" by Mjölk architects

29/05/2019. [Liberec] Czech Republic
metalocus, MARÍA REDONDO
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Mjölk architects designs the "House behind the wall" project. It consists of a reform of a traditional house with gabled roof, in a more modern housing with an industrial style of which only the original basement is maintained.
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The project of Mjölk architects has different elements such as a concrete wall that will reduce the amount of noise from the nearby road as well as defining the area of the exterior entrance to the house, large windows that will define the interior space or the patio It has large trees that give the impression of a mountain forest.
 

Description of project by Mjölk architects

It all started with our clients’ purchase of a house over a hundred years old. The traditional building with a gable roof was at its end. Its stone basement was still in a good condition so we decided to take down the rest of the house and use the stone socle in the basement as a foundation for the new house. Our courageous and somewhat risky plan worked out and today, the clients live in a beautiful, modern house which combines the historical soul of its predecessor and nordic esthetics with a touch of industrial style. What can we say? The road to success is not always an easy one but it’s worth it to put in a little extra effort.

The lot borders a busy road which serves as a starting point for tourists heading to the Jizera Mountains. Because of this we designed a new concrete wall in place of the former exterior wall of the old house. This will not only decrease the amount of noise from the nearby road but also define the outside entrance area to the house. Behind the wall is a small yard with a view of Ještěd which serves as a guidepost between the entrance, the guest house and the stairs to the yard below. 

The construction of the new part is wooden. The asphalt roof together with the black, tar-painted facade reminds us of the shed that used to stand here

On the old stone foundation behind the concrete wall are actually two houses; a family house and a small guest house for a young sailor, the clients’ son, who spends most of the year at the helm of transatlantic ships. 

The parents’ house is more complicated as its building design had to encompass the needs of three different people - a friendly couple and their daughter. The wooden addition above the basement ceiling consists of bedrooms, an office, a bathroom with a toilet and an outdoor yard with a sauna. Sauna therapy is a pleasant variation during the harsh northern winters. That’s why the clients hardly let it cool down.  

The living space of the house is defined by large windows on both sides. The window on the southwest facade brings the view of the Harcov stream valley and Ještěd while the north window shows the previously mentioned sauna yard. A couple of steps lower is a living room stairhead with a fireplace and a wide staircase to the kitchen and dining room which are connected to the patio. The rest of the basement is used as a utility room and storage space.

We enjoyed designing the interior. There are many custom-made elements. In the bathrooms you can find water taps, some of which were replaced with copper pipes and garden taps. In the bedroom there are wardrobes hanging from the ceiling so that they don’t take up so much space and keep the bedroom, walk-in closet and bathroom interconnected. The kitchen counter was designed in a way that retained the former granite blocks from which the lower part of the house was built.

The yard is modest yet beautiful. A couple of large trees give the impression of a mountain forest. A few pots were added around the vegetable garden where the wife keeps fresh herbs.

Site plan.
Ground floor plan.
Upper floor plan.
Roof floor plan.
Section.
Section.
Section.
Elevation.
Elevation.
Elevation.
Elevation.
Axonometric.
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More information

Architects
Mjölk architekti. 
Collaborators
Michal Hejzlar, Mjölk. Jan Nikendey, Mjölk.
Client
Michaela Turková, Stanislav Turek.
Area
Project size.- 271,5 m². Site size.- 1147 m².
Dates
Project year.- 2014. Completion year.- 2018.
Photography Fotografía
Jakub Skokan, Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice. 

Jan Mach, Jan Vondrák. Mjölk

Mjölk architects. (Jan Mach, Jan Vondrák) After finishing their studies at Liberec, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, they founded the architecture studio The Mjölk architects, 2008. After several years, this studio has become a well-known architectural firm. Its architectural style is characterized by conceptual simplicity, veracity and youthful joy.

They not only cooperate with private investors but also with some municipalities. They organize the Kino Liberec film festival and a series of races called Divočina. With the exception of the colorful portfolio of projects, they spread their activities by teaching in Liberec, and participating in Czech and international workshops and conferences.

Jan Mach (1981, Melnik). Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Technical University of Liberec.

Jan Vondrák (1981, Pribram) Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Technical University of Liberec.
JUNG METALOCUS 01

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