Based upon the client’s need to escape and gather strength for his demanding work in prague, Uhlik Architekti was taken to an area between central and south bohemia with the idea to create a hideaway in the countryside. ‘He took us to a spot in the midst of fields, woods and meadows, full of strange boulders, to a remote and somewhat forgotten place. The magic landscape together with the client’s aim won our hearts immediately. After a short hesitation, we decided to build the “forest retreat” (as we called it later) together by our own hands.
The result is a compact volume measuring 3.1 meters by 5.8 meters that freely rests on the ground with a stern raised on top of a huge boulder. The entry features a flat platform opened by a large glassed-in surface with enough headroom for one occupant to stand. The remaining room gradually rises towards another opening which faces the treetops. These windows can be closed by large shutters, one by a pulley and another by a hand-operated winch. Each step of the interior is meant to provide the client with places for leisure and relaxation while concealing hidden storage space underneath. Simultaneously, turning one of the benches over creates another double bed for the user.
The basic supporting framework of the forest retreat is a joist construction which emerged from the cooperation with local carpenters. Charred panels encase the exterior with rabbet joints. The wood for the boards, joists, and base was taken from fallen trees in the nearby vicinity. The inside of the dwelling is coated with oriented strand boards in order to reinforce the structure and reduce construction costs. The drainage of the asphalt-covered roof is secured by a steel L profile, which serves as a rail for attaching the idler pulley wheel. All steel components were prepared according to documentation provided by a blacksmith from a neighboring village.
