Jevany Villa by Architektura is located within a dense spruce forest in the Czech village of Jevany, where the project responds directly to the steep terrain, mature trees, and views toward a nearby lake. Designed as a contemporary residence with an industrial expression, the house positions itself within the landscape through a compact upper profile and a more open, glazed southern facade facing the forest. The site descends sharply from north to south, with access provided from an elevated road at the upper edge of the plot. From the street, the house appears as a restrained single-story volume partially embedded into the slope.
Toward the garden and forest, however, the structure opens into a two-story glazed facade that establishes visual continuity with the surrounding landscape. The massing follows both the terrain and the client’s spatial requirements, minimizing the building’s presence from the public side while maximizing openness toward the forest. A central staircase hall organizes the house spatially and visually. Acting as the primary circulation core, the space connects the eastern and western wings, separating day and night functions while reinforcing the project’s central concept of a gradual descent into the landscape.
Upon entering, views immediately extend toward the surrounding spruce trees through large glazed openings divided into irregular geometric compositions. The entrance sequence begins at a rooftop parking terrace covered by a sawtooth roof structure supported by exposed red steel framing. The roof accommodates three parking bays alongside the main entrance, introducing the project’s industrial material language from the exterior. Red steel elements continue throughout the house, forming window frames, structural details, and visual accents that contrast with the green tones of the surrounding forest.
Inside, the lower level contains the primary living areas organized around an open-plan kitchen, dining, and lounge space connected directly to exterior terraces and forest views. Double-height glazing reinforces the relationship between interior and landscape while allowing natural light to enter deeply into the space. Raw concrete ceilings retain visible formwork textures, while black lighting fixtures and white wall surfaces emphasize the project’s restrained material palette. A suspended steel fireplace introduces another industrial reference while maintaining visual openness within the living space.
Private Zones
The private areas are positioned along a residential corridor lined with integrated white storage elements. Bedrooms, bathrooms, and dressing areas maintain direct visual connections with the surrounding trees, extending the experience of the landscape into the quieter domestic spaces of the house. A secondary garden access at the end of the corridor allows the lower level to operate more independently over time. Large windows frame views of tree trunks and filtered light, embedding the domestic routine within the forest setting.
Material selection throughout the project emphasizes contrast and structural clarity. Red-painted steel structures are combined with exposed concrete, white plaster surfaces, black detailing, and multicolored stone elements within the kitchen area. Minimal exterior interventions maintain the existing forest character, with the residence appearing compact and partially hidden from the street. The built-up area is 218 sqm with a usable floor area of 338 sqm on a 3027 sqm plot. Lead designers David Kraus and Miroslav Styk, with structure by KR projekt and interior design by Jan Waltr, completed the villa in Jevany, photographed by Matej Hakár.
