Vila Vysočina – a residential home with two appearances

When standing at its main entrance, Villa Vysočina looks like an unremarkable, puristic bungalow made of reinforced concrete. This was exactly the plan. "The steep slope offered the ideal starting point for creating two separate building structures,” explains the architect responsible Filip Hejzlar. The upper floor sits at street level and offers protection against the hustle and bustle of the street with its windowless garage and entrance area. The building opens up to the rear, offering an extensive living area with a stunning view towards nature. The ground floor, which features a garden and pool area not visible from the street, offers the residents absolute peace and privacy. The bedrooms with bathrooms, the children's room, a utility room and the spacious sauna and fitness area are all located here.

Despite the unusual arrangement of the rooms, they all share a direct connection to nature. The glazed areas, which are formed from floor-to-ceiling windows and Classic Design sliding doors, cover around 200 m² and guarantee a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors. The sliding systems allow the living and dining areas to be opened on all sides, providing a connection to the 47 metre-long wraparound terrace. From here, the family can dine amongst the treetops, enjoying endless views all year round over the surrounding forests. All rooms on the ground floor provide access to the garden, so that even when working from home or relaxing in the bath, you can experience the feeling of being outside. 

A sophisticated concept was developed so as not to disturb the aesthetic of the glass area with roller blinds when shading is required. Wide roof overhangs over the terrace and huge brown louvre blades provide shading and act as an architectural design element, while simultaneously providing support for the roof. Thermal insulation glass combined with an insulating frame construction prevent the rooms from overheating. The aim for the architects was to harness the full potential of the rooms in accordance with the artistic concept.

Timber floors and ceramic tiles with matching wood grain characterise the different areas of use. For example, ceramics are used in the kitchen and wet areas while warm, real timber creates a cosy feel in the bedroom. The black, steel fireplace, which is located in the 105 m² living and dining area and appears to float in the space, is truly eye-catching. The rooms were deliberately designed in light natural tones, as were the custom-made furnishings. "The people who live here should dominate the space, not the interior design," explains the architect. “That is why we chose to use simple, minimalistic materials. They can be harmonised with all materials that may be used in the future.“