Kohútka Cottage — Low-Energy Mountain Living
Kohútka Cottage is a house in Prague, Czech Republic, by SENAA architekti. Designed in 2025, the project channels traditional Wallachian forms while adopting a contemporary, low-energy approach suited to mountain weather. A log-like profile faces east; broad glazing opens west to sweeping valleys. It’s modern living with practical mountain sense.
Snow lifts in the morning and light catches the saddle roof. From the east, the cottage reads quiet and compact, while the west side opens in a clear, glassy breath across several valleys.
This house in Prague, Czech Republic, by SENAA architekti draws on Wallachian precedent to meet present-day comfort in mountain conditions. The throughline is climate—sit the volume right, shelter where needed, and harvest sun without heat gain. Tradition carries the form; modern systems carry the load.
Face East, Open West
The approach comes from the east to a wind-sheltered entry. A compact wall with small casement windows holds the line, and the pronounced roof overhang drops shade and sheds weather. Turn inside and the plan pivots toward the view, with large-format glazing on the west drawing sightlines through several valleys and light deep into the living room.
Live with the Slope
Set in the southeast corner of the lot, the house rides the terrain rather than cutting it. The ground floor runs open from entry to living area, with panoramic windows and a door to the western terrace that doubles as an outdoor room in fair weather. An office, bathroom, and separate toilet line the quieter edge, keeping daily routines close at hand.
Quiet Above, Wellness Below
The attic forms the calm zone. A bedroom with a walk-in closet and a small balcony looks out to the mountains, joined by a gable window that brings soft, high light across the morning. A second room and a bathroom complete the upper level, while a stair from the entry drops to the basement for wellness and sauna, naturally lit under the terrace thanks to the slope.
Shelter, Then Warmth
Form does the first work against heat and cold. The roof’s deep overhang cuts summer gain, and in winter the low sun reaches inside to warm the interior without glare. Heating runs through a heat pump tied to underfloor circuits, so comfort arrives evenly, and passive solar energy reduces the load in cold snaps.
Build Light, Anchor Strong
A reinforced concrete slab and a basement in permanent formwork give the house its anchor. Above, prefabricated timber sandwich panels—manufactured in the valley and assembled on-site in a single day—form the superstructure and keep the mass low. The log character stays in the expression, while the actual build is lean, fast, and tuned to low-energy performance.
Back outside, the roof edges throw shade along the east wall and gather snowmelt cleanly. Evening drops, the valleys turn blue, and the western glass carries the last light home.
Photography by BoysPlayNice
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