The Glass Cabin – a radical inner reconfiguration of a 130-year-old cottage – confounds expectations. Czech structure apply Mjölk, based by Jan Mach and Jan Vondrák, has mixed present supplies and methods with radical new interventions.
A brand new glass addition enhances the 130-year outdated cottage
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
The cabin mission is situated exterior the small city of Polubný, within the coronary heart of the Jizera Mountains east of Liberec, near the Polish border. The architects changed an present annex with a ‘glass mass’, set above a heavy poured concrete basis. This house turns into a kitchen and household room, with a wealthy mixture of reflective bronze and brass juxtaposed with poured concrete flooring and banquettes, leather-based upholstery, timber joinery, and the rough-hewn partitions of the unique cottage.
The Glass Cabin renders the normal up to date
The kitchen occupies the glass extension, full with reflective brass ceiling
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
The kitchen is unfold throughout two ranges, with a eating space set within the wood-clad coronary heart of the unique construction, alongside a easy, ceramic-encased range by Dutch firm Dtile that types the nice and cozy coronary heart of the home. Such nods to conventional vernacular structure are rendered in an unashamedly fashionable trend, with authentic beams and boards left uncovered and celebrated. ‘The distinction and concord between the classical room and the brand new extension are what our architectural sport was all about.’
Seating is built-in into the concrete foundations
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
The cottage was utterly restored, with new construction the place vital, alongside a brand new shingle roof and Nordic larch cladding. The brand new extension has huge frameless home windows that convey the encircling wood panorama into the house. The kitchen and furnishings are by Czech firm Sollus, whereas the architects designed lots of the particular person gentle fittings, all of which had been then manufactured from brass by the Dekorax metal-printing workshop.
From outdated to new: a standard tiled range hyperlinks the 2 volumes
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
The juxtaposition works wonders, particularly because the innocuous façade seems to be very similar to the opposite cabins that scatter this panorama. The construction has seen a considerable quantity of social and political upheaval in its lifetime, and a part of Mjölk’s course of was to rejoice the enduring connectivity it has with nature, regardless of the tempo of change. ‘It was important that we did not strip the cabin of its intangible soul, the perfume of the timber and the stark chill of the granite blocks. We stored what we might.’
One of many bed room areas within the eaves
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
The Glass Cabin definitely revels in its juxtapositions. Upstairs, previous a round, globe-like skylight that illuminates the touchdown, are 4 bedrooms, tucked into the steeply sloping eaves of the unique roof with panelled partitions painted wealthy purple. These are atmospheric, moody areas, with a wealthy wooden scent and an atmosphere that has been primarily unchanged because the cabin was initially constructed. The works additionally included the development of a low-key sauna constructing alongside the cottage.
A low-lying sauna constructing has been added to the positioning
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
‘We did not need to forcefully place items of world design into the home,’ the architects say. ‘Many of the new tools consists of authentic furnishings and equipment that we designed ourselves. They mirror the standard of the handmade work of the craftsmen from the Jizera Mountains who nonetheless stay and work right here. The brand new items are complemented with outdated furnishings lovingly chosen by the shoppers themselves.’
The unique beams and construction are paired with new glass flooring
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
Mach and Vondrák arrange their studio in 2008, following their research on the College of Artwork and Structure in Liberec. The agency’s identify, Mjölk, means ‘milk’ in Swedish – ‘essentially the most stunning phrase within the Swedish dictionary, in accordance with the duo. The apply has a really hands-on method, with an emphasis on a powerful expression of materiality.
‘Photos are nugatory,’ they are saying. ‘We have to create buildings we’ve got dreamt up with shoppers. That’s the reason each mission we contact issues to us.’ Within the Glass Cabin, outdated and new are blended collectively, making a collection of areas that provides the shoppers an opportunity to time journey in just some steps.
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
Mjölk Architekti, mjolk.cz
(Picture credit score: Jakub Skokan and Martin Tuma)
Supply: Wallpaper
