Reconstruction of a Reconstructed House by Kilo Honc

A Sensitive Renewal Rooted in Context, Craft, and Countryside Living

The “Reconstruction of a Reconstructed House” by Kilo Honc reimagines a 1926 rural home in Plavecký Štvrtok, Slovakia, transforming an awkward 1990s renovation into a thoughtful, contemporary dwelling deeply connected to its landscape. With a modest 147 m² footprint, the project embraces simplicity, contextual respect, and a return to essential living—qualities that define Kilo Honc’s architectural ethos.

During the first site visit, the architects observed a house that “turned its back” to its most valuable asset: a breathtaking garden that stretches into a forest. At its heart stands a majestic old walnut tree. This natural anchor becomes the guiding force for the reconstruction, shifting the home’s focus outward, reorienting everyday life toward light, landscape, and slow rhythms of the countryside.

The project begins by peeling back unnecessary layers, searching for the home’s spatial essence. The architects strip away clutter, open the interiors, and extend the living experience beyond the walls. A new recessed glass façade becomes the mediator between inside and out—creating a shaded transitional zone that encourages lingering, gardening, tinkering, and resting. This in-between space protects the home from overheating while framing changing seasons and gentle breezes.

The design introduces a more deliberate relationship with the garden. Paths encourage residents to move through vegetable beds, old sheds, and natural pockets of retreat to reach a future sauna nestled near the forest edge. This intentional distance fosters ritual, movement, and appreciation for slow living—countering the convenience-driven logic of modern renovation.

All photographs are works of Matej Hakár