Set on a steep hillside in Černošice’s villa district, this bridge-like family home by Stempel & Tesar architekti combines innovative engineering with a dramatic response to its unique site, delivering panoramic views of the Berounka Valley.
Photos
Filip Šlapal / Fotes
Occupying one of the steepest plots in Černošice’s historic villa district in Czechia, Villa Sidonius by Stempel & Tesar architekti embraces its challenging terrain with an innovative, bridge-like design. Suspended on slender concrete pillars, the house hovers above the sloping ground, taking full advantage of its elevated position. The surrounding area, defined by an architectural legacy of Art Nouveau and First Republic homes, has long been a canvas for ambitious residential projects. Villa Sidonius builds on this tradition, introducing a contemporary form that respects the district’s scale while exploring new architectural possibilities.
The northern-facing hillside plot offers uninterrupted views across the Berounka Valley, the hills of the Bohemian Karst, and the distant Prague skyline, but also presents challenges: limited sunlight, steep gradients, and constrained access. Rather than resisting these conditions, the architects conceived a solution that works with the site’s natural contours. By positioning the house as high as possible and adopting a ‘hanging’ design, they maximised sunlight exposure and transformed the view into the central experience of the home.
The result is a prefabricated steel structure that spans 18 metres between two reinforced concrete pillars, evoking the form (and economy) of a lightweight footbridge. External load-bearing profiles accommodate the extreme slope of the site and in turn define the house’s slender form, while an infill of further profiles provide the structural framework for the house’s glazing, floors, and roof.
Given the building’s low thermal mass, heat pumps have been employed for the house’s heating and cooling system, while Swiss air-lux windows, with a high performing air-seal ensure optimum air tightness.
Access to the house is via an underground tunnel that begins in the garage, where additional spaces for a studio and fitness suite are located. Here, the tunnel terminates at one of the house’s supporting pillars, where an elevator transports residents to the living spaces above.
Despite this means of getting in, the plan of the house is deceptively simple. At its centre is a generous, light-filled living area that combines kitchen, dining, and lounge functions. Large openings frame dramatic views to the north, while to the south, a terrace connects the house to the sunniest upper portion of the garden. Here, a swimming pool and landscaped slate slope, designed in collaboration with landscape architect Vladimír Sitta, provide a tranquil outdoor retreat.
Above: Site plan.
Left: Section and plan of the house.
The two projecting ends of the house define its private areas, each with a distinct character. One contains the children’s rooms, a playful enclave removed from the central living area; the other houses the primary bedroom suite, complete with an en-suite bath and views of the valley beyond.
Credits
Architect
Stempel & Tesar architekti
Main project engineer
Aleš Herold
Structural engineer
Valbek
Landscape architect
Vladimír Sitta
Additional images
Source: Architecture Today
