During the initial considerations for designing a family house on the edge of the city, fundamental questions about the site arose. What should such a house look like, and what values should it represent? How should it relate to its surroundings, which give the impression of a chaotic jumble of settlements with all their inherent flaws? What form should it take so that the house conveys a representative, noble presence without appearing out of place in the area?

In seeking answers, we gradually came to the conclusion that the house should clearly differentiate itself from the architecturally mediocre level of the surrounding buildings. Any formal dialogue or attempt to blend in would have been problematic in this location. We were inspired by the idea of designing a house that is in harmony with its surroundings (coherent) while simultaneously capable of generating its own private world, untouched by the outside — a “house for itself.”

Applying this principle consistently led us to the final pentagonal form, which clearly reinforces the concept through its defined character, monumentality, and simple, legible geometry. From the outside, the house appears as an “impenetrable” fortress with a clearly defined, predictable shape. Inside, it opens generously to an atrium and garden, forming the heart of the house and enhancing the sense of relaxation, calm, and privacy. The tension between the closed exterior and the open interior shapes the house’s primary atmosphere and experience.

The house is designed in the Nové Skorotice area, located on the northwestern edge of Ústí nad Labem, approximately 4 km as the crow flies from the historic city center. A key quality of this location is the view of the foothills of the Ore Mountains and the Central Bohemian Uplands.

The plot, just under 1,200 m², is part of a newly developing area mostly filled with large residential houses. Given the generous zoning plan and its overall position relative to the city, one can imagine the city’s original ambition to establish a new villa district. The building site is situated on a southwestern slope near Malé náměstí, which actually functions as a turning point for local buses. Thanks to this location, the plot enjoys an unobstructed, permanently protected southwestern view of the nearby Střížovický Hill.

The pentagon-shaped house is positioned at the upper part of the plot. From the north, it is slightly rotated toward the street to create a representative, solid forecourt in front of the house, left unfenced. The lower part of the plot is reserved as a garden.

The layout of the house is strictly defined by its pentagonal shape, which determines both the exterior façade and the internal atrium with its walkway. The living area, together with the garage, is organized into three wings, while the remaining two wings are formed not by solid walls but by vertical wooden slats, completing the pentagon. The gaps between the slats allow unobstructed views from the atrium to the garden and further to Střížovický Hill. The slats are oriented to block views from the outside while permitting views from inside out, creating a comfortable sense of privacy.

The house’s layout is organized around a path leading to the internal atrium, which serves as the central focal point. Anyone entering the house is visually guided along this path through the main living spaces — the living room with kitchen and the bedrooms. The slope of the plot presented a challenge from the outset: the client requested a barrier-free house without stairs. The height difference is addressed with an internal ramp, which serves not only as vertical circulation but also as a means to experience the space smoothly and uninterruptedly.

The entrance wing of the pentagon flows naturally from the street level and contains a garage for two cars, a technical room, a study, a guest room, sanitary facilities, and the main entrance with vestibule and wardrobe. The street-facing alcove was carved from the pentagon’s volume and is entirely clad with horizontal wooden boards.

We designed the pentagon layout around two scenarios: for the owners arriving from the garage, and for guests entering through the main entrance. The path from the garage gradually proved essential, so it was connected by a generous corridor opening to the garden. The corridor is glazed and connects the guest room with the study. The privacy of rooms is controlled with curtains that can be adjusted as needed. Non-load-bearing partitions allow flexible space arrangements, for example, creating two children’s rooms in the future.

The main visitor entrance leads through the vestibule into the main living wing, which opens along the ramp into the double-height living room and kitchen. The main living area connects via sliding doors to the bedroom wing with its own bathroom. The bedroom wing ends with an outdoor covered terrace featuring a hot tub and barbecue. The interior perimeter of the pentagon is protected by a large roof overhang, which prevents overheating and creates a sheltered space for comfortable access to the terrace. Part of the space under the garage is used as a garden storage area.