Imagine reviving a forgotten 19th-century gem nestled at the edge of the Bohemian Forest – blending timeless charm with cutting-edge design to create a home that honors the past while embracing the future. That's the magic of Studio Plyš's transformation of Borová Lada Cottage in the Czech Republic!
But here's where it gets truly fascinating – how do you balance preserving history with modern needs? Let's dive into this stunning renovation that tackles structural woes head-on.
The Prague-based architecture firm Studio Plyš has breathed new life into a charming 19th-century cottage located on the outskirts of the Bohemian Forest in the Czech Republic. This renovation involved carefully repairing the original stone and timber framework, while thoughtfully adding new elements made from plywood, concrete, and fibre cement to enhance durability and functionality.
Dubbed Borová Lada Cottage after the neighboring village, the 333-square-metre residence underwent a comprehensive overhaul. The goal? To bolster its structural stability and optimize the space, including the clever addition of living areas in the attic. For beginners wondering about attic conversions, think of it as turning underutilized loft space into cozy, functional zones – a smart way to maximize square footage without expanding outward.
According to Studio Plyš, the cottage's original framework had endured a series of ill-advised fixes during the 1980s and 1990s, which compromised its integrity. This necessitated the installation of fresh foundations and reinforced roofing. The team skillfully restored the building's fabric using contemporary materials like steel, concrete, and fibre cement, deliberately leaving them exposed to showcase the layers of the home's evolution over time. It's like peeling back the pages of a history book, where each material tells a story.
As founders Lenka Vávra and Petr Vávra explained to Dezeen, "The design was guided by respect for the building's layers – its material presence and history." They added, "Removing damaging interventions became an opportunity to weave a new structure into the fabric, one that stands alongside the old while amplifying its inherent qualities." This approach not only preserves the character but also highlights the beauty of adaptive reuse, a concept that's gaining traction in sustainable architecture.
The original compartmentalized layout of Borová Lada Cottage remains intact, with the ground floor separated by sturdy stone walls that give it a rustic, authentic feel. However, at the southern end, extra reinforcement was essential to support the roof, resulting in the creation of three board-marked concrete columns poured directly on-site alongside the new foundations. And this is the part most people miss – this fusion of new and old becomes the heart of the home, where a spacious living area flows seamlessly into the kitchen via a generous opening and connects to the outdoor garden through floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and a sheltered terrace.
On the exterior, the spaces between the concrete columns are covered with dark timber panels, featuring matching doors and motorized shutters that glide along visible steel tracks, cleverly hiding two porthole windows. Inside the living room, the larger of these porthole windows is cushioned on the inside to form a cozy, built-in reading nook within the plywood-lined wall – perfect for curling up with a book and enjoying natural light.
Upstairs, strengthening the original roof trusses with steel beams enabled the integration of sunlit attic spaces, designed as an independent unit that Studio Plyš describes as being "quite literally screwed into the building." Timber beams encased in fibre cement boards, which don't reach the gabled ceilings, define a communal central area, while the bedrooms are positioned at the edges under slanted steel and timber supports. This setup, as Lenka and Petr noted, "supports multigenerational living, with individual units and shared spaces linked by a central staircase." The new additions include bathrooms, meticulously isolated from the historic elements to maintain the building's breathable nature – meaning it allows moisture to escape naturally, preventing issues like mold in humid climates.
Crowning the cottage is a metal-shingle roof, edged with a zigzag pattern inspired by the zmijovka, a traditional Czech woolen cap that adds a whimsical, cultural touch.
But here's where it gets controversial – is it right to impose modern materials on historic structures, or does this blend represent the pinnacle of respectful innovation? Some might argue it's a bold leap forward, while others could see it as diluting authenticity. What do you think? Does this renovation inspire you, or does it raise red flags about preserving heritage? Share your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
For context, the Czech Republic is home to numerous similar projects. For instance, the local studio Atelier Hajný recently transformed a rundown 1970s hut near Prague into a cozy timber-clad countryside escape, complete with skylights that flood the space with light. Meanwhile, Mjölk Architekti and Marie Vondráková reconstructed a pool house in Liberec that had been damaged by fire, turning it into a serene forest retreat.
The stunning photographs capturing this project were taken by Tomas Slavik.
For more inspiration, explore related topics like renovations, Czech houses, cottages, residential architecture and interiors, the Czech Republic, houses, and architecture on Dezeen.
