Between the Gables of the Iron Mountains
Study 2025
Seč, Iron Mountains
Ing. arch. Jan Gabriel, Ing. arch. Lada Chromelová
The renovation of a former workers’ house in the centre of Seč transforms a building with two barns into a comfortable holiday home that respects its historical context while opening up towards the courtyard and garden.
The client’s brief emphasized preserving the street façade, unifying the interior without excessive rusticity, and creating a functional connection between the living space and the exterior.
The result is a space that combines traditional materials with bold colour accents, extending its use with a summer kitchen and seating in the barn—offering a year-round living environment while retaining the spirit of the original place.
Important elements :
1
Respect for the working-class context
The project is based on the character of the original workers' colony - it preserves the street line, typical height and proportions of the house. The morphology and material concept of the front facade honors the historical context and local identity.
2
New courtyard shield
The gable facade facing the courtyard now opens up significantly through large windows, connecting the main living room and terrace with the courtyard and garden. The living space thus expands beyond the boundaries of the original floor plan.
3
Opening barns towards the garden
The original barns remain in their rough form, but they are now opened up to the garden. This creates a visual and functional connection between the individual parts of the property and at the same time new possibilities for use - for example, for seating, a summer kitchen or smaller social events.
4
Use of birch plywood in the interior
The interior furniture was designed from birch plywood, which gives the space a clean, contemporary expression. The material's lightness and subtle pattern support the overall sobriety and visual coherence of the design.
