Buková Cabin
Over Buková, that winter wind is blowing once again—the one that journeys from the North Sea across the German plains, gathering strength in the rocky hills above Hejnice, only to cross to the other side of the Jizera Mountains with tales of the winter to come. Right here, in the places where its cold fingers still reach, we restored a cabin.
Location:
Jiřetín pod Bukovou, Czech Republic
Client:
Private
Status:
Completed
Year of completion:
2020
Built-up area:
85,5 m²
Budget:
6,5 million
Architects:
Jan Vondrák, Jan Mach
Photographs:
BoysPlayNice
White smoke rises from the black house at the foot of the hill, hinting that the cabin is not empty. The original face of this unfinished 1980s cabin has transformed beyond recognition. Grey render was replaced by black charred timber cladding, which the owners torched themselves. The cladding extends onto the roof surfaces, giving the main house and the small shed a distinctly abstract feel. Concepts like roof, wall, or chimney merge into a single whole. What stands here is a house with windows and a terrace, with the facade cladding trimming some of the windows into round shapes. The house looks like an oversized birdhouse.
Inside, it is cozy. Flames lick the glass of a large fireplace, wood crackles, and pillows of thick Jizera fog roll past the windows. Wisps of vapor race through the valley, with the white patches of Špičák’s ski slopes glowing above them. The worst weather can actually be the very best here.
The interior is simple and functional. The original layout underwent a few changes. While the main living area stayed in its place, the sleeping arrangements were redesigned. There are now two bedrooms in the house. One is large, accessed via secret stairs hidden inside a wardrobe. The other, slightly smaller, is accessible by a ladder from the kitchen. Opposite the fireplace lies a clever invention called the 'sleeping window,' where unexpected guests can comfortably spend the night.
We are lucky with people. Together with our clients, we make things happen that we used to only admire in magazines. Renovating an old house always takes courage, because you never really know what to expect along the way. One minute a wall collapses, the next you discover the house doesn't even have foundations, or someone finds medieval bones and everything has to change. That makes it all the more rewarding when it all works out in the end. All it takes is steady nerves and a team of people who trust that everything will be alright. Thank you!
