House with In-law Suite | KLAR

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House with In-law Suite | KLAR

Information

  • Project Name: House with In-law Suite
  • Practice: KLAR
  • Products: HON-okna
  • Completion year: 2021
  • Gross Built up Area: 145 sqm
  • Project Location: Rybí
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Structural Consultants: Martin Wünsche
  • Contractors: Richard Kovář
  • Photo Credits: Václav Novák
  • Others: Fire safety engineering: Pavla Tvrdá, EPC: Tomáš Brückner
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Excerpt: House with In-law suite is a residence designed by the architectural firm KLAR. Two elongated volumes with pitched roofs are joined together at an angle and placed on the edge of the buildable area, defined by the setbacks. At first glance, this shape can appear to be reminiscent of the Beskydy region’s typical small single-story home with a pitched roof. The solution with two wings works well to separate the family home and the future in-law suite. A south-facing private courtyard is formed inside the angle, protected from the north and overlooking a nearby forest.

Project Description

[Text as submitted by Architect] Located on the south edge of the Rybí village, Moravian-Silesian Region, the building site is marked by the edge of the access road, the local stream, and neighboring property fencing. It is a sizeable plot of land but significantly reduced buildable area. The future house’s shape is largely predetermined by the minimum required setbacks from existing underground gas storage tanks and the forest edge.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
© Václav Novák

Sloping gently to the southeast, the site offers picturesque views of the surrounding pastures, woods, and village houses. The access road crosses the stream at the site’s lowest point, and there is a small wayside cross with a simple bench. This spot is accessible to the public despite being on the clients’ property. For centuries, it has been part of the Way of the Cross from Nový Jičín to Štramberk.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
Brief © Václav Novák

The clients specified that the building program should include a home for a family of four and a separate unit for their grandparents. They wanted the house made of wood and sustainable in that it should be easy to build and cost-effective. They also wanted to be able to build the house themselves, at least partially.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
Concept © Václav Novák

There are almost no neighboring buildings around this greenfield site that would define structure or form. Two pitched-roofed catalog houses are standing close by. The rest of the village is a mix of detached single-family homes from various periods. Answering the question: “What should the new house look like?” was quite difficult in this case. After considering the budget limitations, program requirements, and the preferred choice of a wood structure building, our final decision was to adopt a rational approach with repeating structural elements.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
© KLAR
House with In-law Suite | KLAR
© Václav Novák

Two elongated volumes with pitched roofs are joined together at an angle and placed on the edge of the buildable area, defined by the setbacks. At first glance, this shape can appear to be reminiscent of the Beskydy region’s typical small single-story home with a pitched roof. The solution with two wings works well to separate the family home and the future in-law suite. A south-facing private courtyard is formed inside the angle, protected from the north and overlooking a nearby forest. Shaded by the roof overhang, a wide deck stretching along the house connects it with the courtyard, offering endless possibilities to sit, relax and listen to the sounds of running water, rustling leaves, or the distant hum of village life. Mature trees growing around the stream provide shade from the hot summer sun, but their bare branches let in enough sunlight to reach the house in winter.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
Layout © Václav Novák

The two wings intersect at the vestibule. This room gives a good overview of both wings, the courtyard, and the deck, acting as a metaphoric entrance signpost. From the vestibule, a door leads to the main living area on one side, while on the other, we enter a corridor to the in-law suite. The corridor goes along the east side of the in-law suite. It provides access to the mechanical room, the smaller bathroom, and the grandparent’s bedroom. It also connects this wing to the deck.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
© KLAR
House with In-law Suite | KLAR
© Václav Novák

Entering the family wing from the vestibule, we reach a double-height, open-plan living area with dining and cooking. Providing enough views inside and outside the house was emphasized here and everywhere around the building. From the cooking area, a horizontal strip window overlooks the entryway. In contrast, a wide window seat in the living area offers views of the landscape beyond. A corridor connects the living area with the private zone consisting of the children’s bedroom, the main bathroom, and the main bedroom. The open-plan living area and the bedrooms have direct access to the deck.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
© Václav Novák
House with In-law Suite | KLAR
Structure and Materials Load bearing structure © Václav Novák

The house was erected using the 2-by-4 structural system, mineral wool insulation, and structural OSB board sheathing. The dominant interior finishes are natural 3-layer spruce solid wood panel and white gypsum board. The bedrooms have oak flooring, and the corridors and bathrooms have ceramic tiles.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
Foundations © Václav Novák

The foundations are divided into two sections. The in-law suite uses a reinforced concrete strip foundation while the family home is raised from the ground on thin steel stilts. This gives a certain lightweight quality to the building, reducing its scale and impact on the soil.

House with In-law Suite | KLAR
Heating © Václav Novák

The house is fitted with water underfloor heating powered by an electric boiler. Additional heating with a wood-burning stove is available in the living area and a heated towel radiator in the bathroom.

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