Passive family house on a steep slope, Trutnov
Červený kopec has become a focal point of residential development in Trutnov over the past two decades. The plot is situated at the edge of the planned housing area, in immediate proximity to the forest. Its position on a slope, at the termination of the residential structure, ensures open views into the surrounding landscape.
The site is south-facing and fan-shaped, with one rounded corner. It slopes significantly toward the south, with a height difference of 7.4 meters. On the northern side, at its highest point, it connects to the access road.
To the east, the plot borders another parcel designated for a family house. Along the western boundary, a pedestrian passage between the building plots is planned.
The site offers spectacular views of the historic city center to the southeast. The southern and western horizons are framed by a mature beech forest. The south-facing slope provides ideal conditions for an energy-efficient passive house design.
The task was to design a two-storey family house for a young family of four on the given site. The requirement for low operating costs resulted in an energy-efficient passive design.
The spatial program includes a flexible layout of the children’s rooms, allowing the house to adapt to changing life situations and family needs. The brief also required a generous workshop / sports equipment storage, a bedroom, and the main living space to be located on the same level with direct access to the terrain.
Storage for garden equipment and covered parking spaces are positioned outside the thermal envelope of the house.
Conceptual Principles
Positioning of the house on the sloping site The house is placed at the highest possible point of the steeply sloping plot. This approach maximizes the usable garden area while minimizing the need for significant terrain modifications.
Entrance and garden levels The entrance level corresponds to street level and accommodates the children’s rooms and the workshop. The garden level opens directly onto the terrain and contains the living room with kitchen, the master bedroom, and the technical facilities.
Formal articulation and the core of the house The heart of the house is the living room with kitchen, which — together with the bedroom — opens toward the garden through a generous glazed façade, the “eye of the house.” The importance of this space is emphasized by a partial double-height volume beneath the roof, incorporating roof windows that bring daylight deep into the rear part of the layout.
The massing of the house is derived from the archetypal form of a gabled-roof dwelling. The entrance position with its traditional porch is equally conventional. However, the building is further shaped by the sloping terrain and the internal spatial programme. As a result of the asymmetrical roof placement, the southern eaves line is lowered by an entire storey. The southern roof plane thus covers the children’s bedrooms and the main living area, both illuminated by long, narrow roof openings – “slits”.
The recessed southern façade acts as an eye overlooking the landscape: its full-height glazing brings ample daylight into the interior while offering spectacular views of the city and the surrounding countryside. All primary living spaces are oriented to the south, towards the garden.
The entrance level at street height is divided into two parts by the staircase. The eastern side accommodates the children’s bedrooms with a private bathroom, while the western section serves as a workshop and storage area.
The main living space with the kitchen, as well as the master bedroom, is located on the lower ground floor in direct contact with the garden. The bedroom sits beneath the children’s rooms on the eastern side, while the living area lies to the west, below the workshop. The space is partially open to the attic above. A utility room is positioned behind the bedroom.
A garden storage room, wine cellar, and sauna are integrated beneath the carport structure and are located outside the main building envelope.
Authors: Michal Rouha, Martin Chlanda, Jana Fischerova, Benedikt Markel
Location : Trutnov, CZ
Project : 2013
Construction : 2014–2016
Photos: Michal Rouha, Benedikt Markel
