Around the Oak
- Location
- Borovany, Czechia
- Typology
- Residences
- Stage
- Schematic Design
- Role
- In collaboration with Kristýna Pščolková
- Year
- 2017
Around the Oak is a competition proposal developed for the 2017 edition of "Český ostrovní dům", a prestigious program dedicated to source-efficient residential architecture. Designed for a young family of four on a flat, grassy plot in the South Bohemian village of Vrcov (near Borovany), the project shifts the focus from extreme, isolated self-sufficiency toward a "rational off-grid" hybrid system. The house utilizes existing municipal electricity and water lines, but integrates advanced photovoltaics, battery storage, and smart thermal accumulation to achieve a positive annual energy balance and actively support the local grid (Smart Grid). The proposal was developed in collaboration with Kristýna Pščolková.
Architecturally, the building reinterprets traditional South Bohemian rural forms through a contemporary, clean-lined double-gabled silhouette clad in natural timber siding. A key feature of the site plan is the integration of a majestic, pre-existing mature oak tree on the northern boundary. The main pedestrian entrance is choreographed to wind intimately around this preserved tree, turning the daily act of entering the home into a celebration of nature. On the southern side, the house opens to a private retention pond, which manages rainwater, stabilizes the microclimate, and establishes a tranquil reflective backdrop for the living space.
The interior is organized around a grand, double-height living and dining hall on the ground floor. A massive, south-facing glass facade floods the space with natural light, protected from overheating in summer by deep roof overhangs and adjustable vertical louvers. In the attic, the parents' master bedroom features a dramatic, fully glazed triangular gable end that opens to a private, elevated balcony with panoramic views of the Bohemian countryside.
From an engineering standpoint, the house incorporates highly resource-efficient solutions. Because Vrcov lacks a municipal sewage system, wastewater is treated on-site via a private treatment plant before being safely discharged into the adjacent Vrcov stream. A key technical highlight of the design is the living room fireplace: the insert utilizes an external chimney routed entirely along the exterior facade. This deliberate engineering choice avoids any penetration of the pristine roof membrane, ensuring the thermal envelope and waterproofing of the roof remains completely uncompromised.
