Malý Chmel’s new home is conceived as a “light cave” dividing the interior into several levels, each offering unique lighting conditions, views and degrees of privacy, creating fluid spaces.
The house is organized into seven vertical levels to maximize usable space due to the compact space of the plot. The ground floor contains the kitchen, dining room and living room, becoming the heart of the house where the family gathers. The remaining levels are connected by a central staircase, which eliminates the need for hallways providing seamless transitions between rooms.
Constructively, the home is composed of a concrete wall structure and concrete slabs as a floor. These structural elements not only function as load-bearing supports, but form an “interior sculpture” giving the house a unique character. The home incorporates durable, low-maintenance materials to ensure long-term resilience with minimal environmental impact. The vertical arrangement and orientation of the windows help minimize heat loss and optimize energy use.
House with Seven Floors by Malý Chmel. Photograph by Alex Shoots Buildings.
Project description by Malý Chmel
The house is conceived as a vertical light cave situated in a sloping garden. It consists of spaces with different qualities, sizes, heights and natural lighting, which connect to each other creating a fluid space. These variable spaces offer various light situations, views and levels of privacy, allowing the spatial and light situation in the house to be changed with curtains. Every time you are behind the corner you can look through the “cave opening” from one space to another or into a garden. This approach creates a larger house than the terrain physically allows.
The main load-bearing construction consists of an “interior statue”. The structure is composed of concrete walls, slabs and a façade with carefully placed openings. The floor plan is in the form of an irregular pentagon, which arises from the topography and the views towards the rural landscapes. The land area is rather small for a single-family house and therefore also the floor area of the house (approximately 63 m²) preserving as much land as possible for the garden.
The single-family home consists of 7 levels. This approach allows the house to be larger than the land physically allows. On the first floor are the common spaces: kitchen, dining room and living room, on the second level is the entrance, on the third and fourth levels are two children's bedrooms and on the upper levels are the bathroom (fifth), the study room (sixth) and finally the master bedroom on the seventh level.
Client Brief
The house was designed for a young family with two children. Both parents are active athletes who spend a significant amount of time doing physical activities and have a deep appreciation for contemporary architecture. The clients wanted a house that not only reflected their active lifestyle, but also provided an enriching and stimulating environment for their children to explore and play. They envisioned a spatially unique and original interior that balanced functionality and comfort for daily living. Given their relatively strict budget, the challenge was to create a house that combined architectural innovation with affordability. The result is a “light cave,” an architecturally unique residence that perfectly reflects the needs and lifestyle of this family.
Context and location
The house is situated on a sloping plot with stunning views of the surrounding landscape in a suburban setting. The design features a distinctive irregular pentagon shape and vertical orientation, which sets it apart from more traditional buildings in the area. With a compact footprint of approximately 63 m², the house makes efficient use of space, leaving a substantial portion of the land available for a garden. This vertical structure on a small plot gives the illusion of a more spacious home, offering ample space for the family within a relatively limited setting. Built into the slope, the house blends harmoniously with its surroundings, while its unique form emerges from an interior spatial concept rather than external appearances.
Concept
The overall concept of the house is inspired by the idea of a “vertical light cave.” This approach divides the interior into several levels, each offering unique lighting conditions, views, and degrees of privacy. Together, these levels create a cohesive and dynamic whole, achieving a sense of openness and fluid movement within the home. Every corner and passage provides a new perspective, whether of the outside environment or other interior spaces. Shades can be adjusted to vary lighting and privacy levels in each room, creating a versatile atmosphere that can change throughout the day to suit the family’s needs.
Spatial Solution
The house is organized into seven vertical levels to maximize usable space within its compact footprint. The ground floor serves as a common area with the kitchen, dining room, and living room – the heart of the home where the family gathers. The main entrance is on the second level. The children’s bedrooms are located on the third and fourth levels, giving the children their own spaces to play and have privacy. The fifth level houses the bathroom, the sixth serves as a home office, and the upper seventh level is dedicated to the master bedroom, offering maximum privacy and views of the landscape. The levels are connected by a central, quasi-helical staircase with a triangular footprint. This design eliminates the need for hallways, as the staircase provides seamless transitions between rooms, following the terrain and aligning with the orientation and function of each room.
Interior Design
The interior is designed in a minimalist yet sturdy style. Exposed concrete walls and structural elements are not only load-bearing functional elements, but also form an “interior sculpture” that gives the house its unique character. Raw concrete adds an unmistakable atmosphere, creating a sense of stability and security, in keeping with the “cave” concept. The interaction of concrete surfaces with varying natural lighting from different angles generates a dynamic experience of light and shadow, bringing depth and vitality to the space. Concrete, combined with large windows and well-designed spaces, creates an environment that feels pleasant, cozy and unexpectedly welcoming. The interior design was a process and to some extent an experiment, in which the final form was refined in parallel to construction. The raw structure provided a significant insight into how the interiors should ultimately look. Fortunately, with the patience of the clients, the spatial and material solution of the raw structure could be further emphasized in the final form of the interior.
Sustainable Elements
The compact footprint and vertical arrangement help to minimize heat loss and optimize energy use. The thermal mass of the concrete structure contributes to thermal comfort and stability within the interior environment, requiring minimal heating throughout the year. In winter, the low angle of the sun warms the interior, while nighttime cooling is sufficient to maintain comfortable temperatures during summer days. This spatial and material solution helps to reduce operating costs. Windows facing in multiple directions maximize natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day. Designed with sustainability in mind, the home incorporates durable, low-maintenance materials to ensure long-term resilience with minimal environmental impact. This unique family home serves as a personal sanctuary for a young family and an inspiring example of modern, sustainable, space-saving living.
