Under the Star Game Reserve: Martin Cenek Architecture

Located in Prague 6, Czechia, along Libocká Street, Under the Star Game Reserve by Martin Cenek Architecture is a remarkable residential project that seamlessly integrates contemporary housing with the rugged, historic landscape of the Hvězda (Star) Game Reserve. Completed in 2022, this project exemplifies minimalist architecture, sustainable design, and contextual sensitivity, addressing the challenges of a steep, complex site while delivering modern, luxurious homes.

Site Context and Urban Integration

Libocká Street slopes downward from Petřiny towards Libocká Pond and Litovický Creek, bordered to the north by the historic Star Nature Reserve. The site itself is strikingly unique, characterized by a 14-meter elevation difference between the street and the base of the reserve wall, as well as a near-vertical sandstone cliff running midway along the plot. Historically overgrown and underutilized, the land presented an opportunity to create residences that respond to both the terrain and the surrounding suburban context of terraced houses and remnants of 19th-century villas.

The design approach prioritizes contextual urban integration, with the three houses winding naturally along the street, respecting the rural character of the area. Each house’s position is carefully rotated to engage with the rock wall, preserve natural vegetation, and enhance the overall composition of the street. The project reflects historical settlement patterns where natural topography influenced building placement.

Architectural Design and Form

The triplet of homes features minimalist, elevated volumes that appear to float above the material and visually lighter ground floor. The two outer houses have hipped roofs that soften the massing, while the central apartment building accommodates communal facilities and access to duplex and penthouse units.

Material selection emphasizes natural textures and contrasts. White lime plaster, natural timber, white perforated corrugated sheet metal, and glazing form the primary exterior palette, complemented by galvanized steel detailing and grey-painted timber fencing. This combination creates a dialogue between the natural surroundings and the contemporary architectural expression.

The street-facing façades feature a dynamic composition of frameless windows in varying sizes. These strategically positioned openings capture views of the Liboc Church, Libocká Pond, and Divoká Šárka, while the garden façades maximize transparency and connection to the surrounding landscape.

Interior Design and Spatial Experience

Interiors across all three homes maintain a cohesive material language, including exposed concrete ceilings, white plaster walls, oak flooring, and built-in furniture combining white paint and natural oak veneer. Service areas feature hexagonal grey mosaic tiles, while bathrooms and the indoor pool in the investor’s villa are finished in light grey screed, creating a serene, minimalistic backdrop for daily life.

Signature elements such as staircases are treated as sculptural features. The investor’s villa incorporates a monolithic spiral concrete staircase connecting all floors, visible from the street through a loggia, while the smaller family house uses a lightweight zig-zag steel staircase. The central apartment building features an exterior steel staircase, engaging directly with the sandstone cliff.

Landscape and Outdoor Spaces

The front of the houses adopts a more urban character with stone paving and newly planted trees, while the steep garden above retains its wild, mature vegetation, bounded by the Star Game Reserve wall. The villa’s garden includes an indoor pool, an outdoor kitchen, and vegetated roofs forming terraces that integrate functional outdoor spaces with the natural topography.

Sustainability and Building Performance

Constructed predominantly from monolithic reinforced concrete with exposed slab undersides and steel columns, all three buildings are built to passive house standards, featuring exceptional energy efficiency. Heating is provided by air-to-water heat pumps with underfloor heating, while ventilation with heat recovery and air conditioning ensure optimal comfort. The project demonstrates a careful balance between luxury, environmental responsibility, and architectural integrity.

Under the Star Game Reserve represents a masterful fusion of modern architecture with natural and historical context. The project showcases Martin Cenek Architecture’s sensitivity to topography, heritage, and sustainable design, creating homes that are visually striking, environmentally responsible, and deeply connected to the surrounding landscape.

All photographs are works of  Marek Jehlička, Martin Cenek