A Tiny Retreat Resting On A Large Boulder In The Czech Countryside
- Name
- Uhlik Architekti
- Project
- Forest Retreat
- Images
- Jan Kuděj
- Words
- Steph Wade
Prague-based firm Uhlik Architekti were asked by a private commission to create ‘Forest Retreat’: a compact and multifunctional timber hideaway that balances atop a natural boulder.
The client requested a private space in the countryside where he could escape for quiet contemplation, given his demanding work back in Prague. Speaking of the site location, the architects explain that the client took them to a spot in the midst of fields, woods and meadows, “Full of strange boulders, to a remote and somewhat forgotten place”. The rich landscape together with the client’s aim won the architects over instantly. The exterior of the tiny home is charred timber and when closed it resembles an unassuming storage container. Two side walls act as moveable shutters that open to reveal large glass windows, allowing forest views from inside. All materials are local; either from a neighboring forest or from other nearby sources. The interior is made from plywood and features a set of ascending steps that differentiate the space, with each step doubling as a storage unit. The client can sit, work, lounge, or sleep as he pleases—the top level can be flipped upside down, turning into a double bed.
Read more about cabins in nature featured on IGNANT, here.
All images © Jan Kuděj for Uhlik Architekti