South Bohemian Villa
Kozina House was created in a historical part of a small South Bohemian town in the Czech Republic, once neglected Atelier 111 felt it possessed a rather strong atmosphere and offered potential. The place attracted the studio from the beginning for its distinctive character and great location. In the narrow sleepy streets, next to the grassy patch of Kozina Square, the dwelling is hidden from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding traffic, while only a few steps from the town centre with shops, services and offices, schools, cinema, theatre, and railway station.
The design team perceive the reconstructed house as an alternative to suburban villas which sometimes disproportionately cut out of the local context. The building program makes the most of the modest footprint and includes a sufficiently large living room with an adjoining outdoor terrace, an attic with children’s rooms and a playroom, a bedroom with its own bathroom, a garden with fruit trees, two garages spaces and a large workshop with a car lift. The residential building is created by connecting two neighbouring houses. One of them underwent a significant reconstruction at the turn of the millennium, the other one is in a state of disrepair. The studio removed the unsuitable modern elements, such as a large dormer with a balcony and plastic windows.
Behind the brick backing, they discovered original stone masonry and small historical fragments which hold value. Respecting the basic shape, scale, and materiality of the original masses the design team adjusted the internal disposition in an effort to make the building accessible from two sides – for pedestrians from the square and for cars from the opposite side.
The large window in the gable of the courtyard facade captures the unique view of the church tower. Views from the interior of the courtyards enrich the overall perception of the space and the newly created openings create a contrast with the original traditionally divided windows.
