My Neighbour, the Forest

Among them is Mr Pavel, who not only chose his neighbour himself, but also moved to be near him. His new house, situated on the outskirts of a town in North Moravia, is right next to a forest.

Pavel didn’t have to go to any great lengths to find it, nor did he have to move to a new area: the plot, situated in a hamlet in the middle of a 200-hectare forest, had literally been right under his nose all along. And so he was able to watch as what was once a neglected and unsightly brownfield site was transformed into a peaceful oasis, perfect for living.

“We used to live in a detached house half a kilometre away as the crow flies, so we knew the area well and often walked through here into the woods for a stroll or to go mushroom picking. It has an interesting history; the land originally belonged to the army, but a friend of mine bought the site of the former military base and began to gradually reclaim it. And once we’d had a proper look at the area, we realised that this was exactly the sort of place we’d like to build a new house,” says the owner.

Pavel and his wife Marcela didn’t have a very detailed idea of what their new home should look like. In fact, their only wish was to have a house similar to a bungalow – in other words, with no stairs and no upper floors. The second requirement was dictated by planning regulations, which stipulated a set distance from the tree line, and this influenced the final shape and orientation of the house. Nothing else was predetermined, and the whole family agreed to give free rein to their ideas and creativity.

“We approached two young architects, who set about designing both the house and the garden. We gave them free rein, and in the end we were pleasantly surprised by how a harmonious whole gradually emerged from the sketches and drawings,” says the owner.

After all, the plot on which Pavel built his house must have been a delight for any architect: it is not in the middle of nowhere, yet nor is it a typical strip of land surrounded by neighbours. It is set in the countryside, yet only a ten-minute drive from the centre of the district town.

The fundamental principle of the new house is a thoughtful approach to privacy and nature, which defines light and space. The house therefore features both traditional windows and large glazed sliding walls opening onto the garden, through which nature seems to flow into the living area. The interior is designed in white and black with clean, straight lines, which may perhaps come across as a little cold. However, this is a deliberate interplay between the tranquillity and understated nature of the interior spaces and the exterior, which forms an extension of the house – not only visually but also functionally.

The building’s interesting L-shaped layout is complemented by a generously proportioned outdoor atrium, which combines a wooden terrace with stone elements: here we find gravel, large flat tiles, white square paving stones used to border the lawns, as well as large solitary boulders that can serve as benches. There are also plenty of areas outdoors for rest and relaxation. Thanks to a canopy adjoining the main building, a spacious arched walkway has been created on the terrace, which accommodates designer armchairs, a table and a sofa. 

And because Mr Pavel has a demanding job that requires a great deal of empathy and social interaction, he wanted to incorporate a wellness area into the atrium. The choice fell on a combination of a built-in Swim Spa XL swimming pool complemented by a Combi^iN relaxation unit; these are connected and, in the shape of a second ‘L’, seamlessly complement the house’s floor plan. Both the swim spa and the hot tub are protected by an automatic ACS^® cover against dirt and heat loss, thereby contributing to optimal thermal comfort. And it is precisely this pleasantly warm water that the owners enjoy so much.

The atrium with its wellness area is flanked by green spaces, separated by a low stone wall. The garden itself was created at the same time as the house, just two years ago, so there aren’t any particularly tall trees here. Which, of course, doesn’t matter at all; just beyond the fence, ‘over at the neighbours’ in the woods, there’s a birch grove that visually enlarges and extends the garden. It’s as if it were just popping in for a visit, taking a peek at what’s going on in the neighbourhood.

And it sees things that ordinary guests don’t – such as the green roof covered in sedum, which extends into the atrium, or the rhythmic patterns created by the outdoor wellness area, the terrace, the gravel areas, the lawn and the stone features. And there’s also the interplay of colours: the brown decking boards, the grey stones, the green of the lawn and the sky-blue water in the swim spa and hot tub.

The very intimacy of the forest’s proximity may come as a surprise to some at first glance. Mr Pavel’s family have long since got used to the lush natural surroundings opposite. And what sort of neighbour is the forest? Well, first and foremost, it’s curious. “Before we had a fence, roe deer and hares would come right up to our windows. But having a fence doesn’t mean we want to isolate ourselves from our neighbours. A woodpecker regularly flies over here in the mornings, and you can hear all sorts of birds here. There’s always something to look at; the forest is beautiful in every season,” says the satisfied owner.

What they value most about the house is how it manages to balance privacy with tranquillity, nature and a space for undisturbed relaxation. Although they gave the architects free rein and didn’t interfere much with the design, they wouldn’t change a thing about their new home. And how have they got used to having nature as their neighbour?

“The forest has proved to be an excellent neighbour; we have no disputes. What’s more, there’s no risk of it moving away from us. I’d simply wish everyone could have a neighbour like that,” adds Mr Pavel.