Medník House by päivä architekti – A Forest-Edge Studio Extension Rooted in Craft, Landscape, and Light

The Medník House extension, designed by päivä architekti, is a sensitive architectural addition to an early-20th-century family home perched above the Sázava River in Czechia. The original house, renovated and partially expanded in 2010, had gradually become too constrained for the client’s evolving lifestyle and creative work. The architects responded with a freestanding, nature-integrated studio building, positioned delicately between forest and garden, forming a quiet retreat that amplifies views toward the Medník hill and surrounding valley.

A Landscape-Led Search for Form and Placement

The client envisioned a light-filled studio with generous openness, complemented by a separate sleeping area, bathroom, and toilet. Daylight access, direct connection to nature, and a sense of creative openness were key.

Finding the right footprint required careful consideration of:

• The wedge-shaped topography of the plot
• A steep rocky slope above the river
• The presence of mature forest trees
• The cherished panorama toward the Sázava valley and Medník peak

Rather than attaching the extension directly to the existing house, päivä architekti designed a standalone volume at the threshold between forest and garden. This preserves the original house’s relationship with the landscape while offering a distinct architectural identity for the new studio.

A Terrace Connection Threaded Around a Mature Oak

The new building connects to the existing house through a covered terrace, intentionally designed around a fully grown oak tree that stands close to the structure. This gesture preserves the site’s natural character while turning the oak into a defining spatial anchor.

A covered walkway leads from the house toward the garden, enhancing movement between interior and exterior spaces and strengthening the project’s forest–garden intermediary identity.

Spatial Concept: Open Studio, Sliding Windows, and a Hanging Gallery

The extension opens generously toward the terrace and valley through large sliding windows, dissolving the boundary between indoor activities and the surrounding wilderness. A more solid corner turns back toward the existing structure, grounding the volume and shielding the studio from excessive exposure.

Inside, the architects inserted a simple hanging gallery—a lightweight mezzanine offering additional workspace, storage, or retreat. The morphology, roofline, and proportions subtly echo the original house while establishing a contemporary counterpart.

Craft-Oriented Construction: Steel, Wood, and Self-Build Techniques

A major design constraint—and opportunity—was the client’s intention to carry out much of the construction personally. This shaped the structural strategy:

• Micropile foundations installed professionally due to the sloped terrain
• A steel supporting frame erected with precision and efficiency
• Subsequent wooden superstructure built in self-help mode
• Simple, repeatable details to support owner-led construction

The exterior is clad in tanned larch, allowing the house to gradually weather into the forested context. The interior features spruce bioboard surfaces, built-in furniture, and warm timber textures that support both creative work and restful retreat.

Material Warmth and a Calm, Nature-Driven Atmosphere

The extension’s character is defined by:

• Larch cladding that ages gracefully under sun and rain
• Spruce interiors offering warmth, acoustic comfort, and a tactile ambiance
• Integrated storage and furniture built by local carpenters
• A minimal palette that enhances the surrounding forest’s presence

The resulting atmosphere is serene, meditative, and intimately connected to its landscape—an ideal setting for creative pursuits.

All the Photographs are works of Radek Úlehla