Wooden Cabin in the Jizera Mountains by Markéta Cajthamlová: A Modern Cottage Rooted in Tradition

Nestled at the edge of a mountain village in Czechia’s Jizera Mountains, the Wooden Cabin designed by Markéta Cajthamlová (2022) reinterprets the region’s traditional architecture through a contemporary lens. With a floor area of 140 m², the cabin blends seamlessly into its dramatic natural surroundings of meadows and forests—an ideal retreat for both summer and winter recreation.

Respecting Tradition, Embracing the Landscape

The cabin takes the familiar form of a traditional mountain cottage, with an elongated gable-roofed mass and a smaller gabled outbuilding that serves as a vestibule and storage space. Positioned carefully on a sloping plot, the building requires minimal landscaping and sits lightly within the terrain, supported by retaining walls of local sand-colored stone and a visible light concrete plinth.

Behind the cabin stretches a vast landscape of forests and meadows. The architecture is intentionally modest, allowing nature to remain the dominant element while the house provides a warm, sheltered base for recreation and relaxation.

Materials: Rooted in Regional Identity

Construction employs natural, locally sourced materials typical of the region:

• Wood (primarily spruce) for the structural system, interior finishes, and visible detailing.
• Glass, a product historically linked to the Jizera region, used generously in corner windows and skylights.
• Stone, used in retaining walls, terraces, and landscaping to anchor the cabin in its terrain.

The interior showcases wood in all its forms—CLT and SWP solid wood panels define the walls, ceilings, and roof, while dividing walls are also wooden, reinforcing the cabin’s warm, tactile quality. Floors are cast in gray cement screed, contrasting the natural textures with a contemporary finish.

Architectural Form and Façade Design

The cabin’s dark blue clapboard façade echoes traditional cottages yet feels distinctly modern. It is punctuated by generous corner windows stretching 10 and 12 meters long, offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape. These windows are framed in white-painted wood, including sills, shutters, blinds, and linings, creating a striking contrast against the dark façade.

The skylight, aligned with the roof’s structural rhythm, uses frames finished in the same dark gray as the asphalt roofing strips, maintaining architectural cohesion.

Interior Layout: A Home of Three Parts

The cabin’s plan is organized into three zones:

• Western section: An open-plan living space with kitchen, dining, and fireplace, oriented westward to capture evening light.
• Central section: The bathroom and sauna, topped by an attic accessed by stairs from the living room.
• Eastern section: A bedroom accommodating up to four people, facing east for morning light.

The result is a balanced home that prioritizes comfort, seasonal living, and strong connections between interior spaces and the landscape.

Outdoor Spaces and Terrain Integration

An outdoor wooden terrace of larch planks and a stone platform of local chipped stone extend the living areas outdoors, emphasizing the relationship between the house and its setting. The parking area, designed with granite pavers, accommodates up to four cars without dominating the landscape.

By embedding the structure into the terrain and working with local materials, the cabin minimizes environmental impact while maximizing its connection to place.

A Contemporary Mountain Retreat

The Wooden Cabin in the Jizera Mountains exemplifies how architecture can respect regional traditions while offering modern comfort. With its reliance on natural materials, careful orientation, and minimal intervention in the landscape, the project is both a retreat for its inhabitants and a celebration of Czech mountain heritage.

All the photographs are works of Petr Polák