Barn-inspired Markétka House in the Czech countryside will age beautifully over time

When clients Miroslav and Markéta showed Mjölk Architekti the plot of land they purchased in the Czech countryside, they also told the architects that they wanted a family home with enough space for their growing family and art collection.

The Liberec-based architecture studio responded by creating a home with soaring nine-meter-tall ceilings that reference local barn vernacular. The tall, gabled Markétka House is clad in Siberian larch, which will age to develop a beautiful patina over time.

Built to accommodate a couple and their two children, the handsome timber home is set on a 1,200-square-meter plot near the Czech village of Točník and was chosen for its panoramic countryside views. To take advantage of those views, large windows and glazed sliding doors are set into all four facades of the family home and are carefully positioned to frame the best views of the landscape, including nearby Točník castle. Siberian larch clads the timber-framed structure, while titanium zinc tiles cover the roof.

In contrast to the timber facade, the interior features a minimal and almost all-white color palette that evokes an art gallery-like feel. Since the home was built on a slope, the ground floor plan steps down from the garage on the higher elevation to the open-plan communal area—comprising a living room, dining area, and kitchen—located on the lower end of the slope. An entryway/lobby with a nine-meter-tall ceiling is placed at the heart of the home. A stairway leads from the lobby to the upper floor where two bedrooms are located at opposite ends of the house.