Horní Malá Úpa Mountain Chalet Frames Krkonoše Views With Calm Poise
Horní Malá Úpa Mountain Chalet anchors a steep hillside in the Czech Republic with a panoramic gaze toward the Úpa River valley and Sněžka. Designed by OK Plan Architects, the new-build chalet balances National Park constraints with a modern family brief, reading traditional Krkonoše cues through a crisp, durable shell. Inside, warm textures and large glazing steer daily life toward the views, while discreet energy systems keep comfort steady year-round.
Snow-bright light spills across charred boards and aluminum seams. From the living floor, a single fixed pane holds the valley and the Sněžka ridgeline in steady view.
This chalet in the Krkonoše mountains, by OK Plan Architects, sits in the Czech Republic on a regraded spur of steep terrain. A new build for family recreation, it orients daily life to climate and view, using a compact form and carefully placed openings to meet strict National Park rules and a demanding energy brief.
Set Into Contour
Approach comes along the slope, then into the living level aligned with the ground. The house follows the hillside’s contour, its base slab riding rocky subsoil while earthwork remains minimal beyond the immediate footprint, so meadow and terrain read continuous.
Hold The View
At the heart of the living floor, a large fixed window frames the Úpa River valley and the Krkonoše peaks, with the iconic Sněžka held like a reference mark. Circulation and secondary rooms wrap this central room, so movement constantly returns to that quiet, cinematic aperture.
Form, Tradition, Limits
The volume nods to local Krkonoše architecture through its roof form and compact proportions. Park and building commission requirements steer glazing, massing, and materials, so the envelope reads disciplined rather than decorative.
Warmth Inside, Weather Out
A ventilated facade clad in charred wood wraps insulated masonry on the first floor, giving a durable, low-maintenance skin against mountain weather. Above, a classic collar-tie roof truss with select steel elements opens the attic for bedrooms and a small wellness area that steps to an outdoor terrace with a heated tub.
Quiet Systems, Hard Work
An anthracite-finished aluminum roof sheds snow and collects sun on the valley-shielded pitch where photovoltaic panels sit out of sight. A heat pump with geothermal boreholes drives the building’s heating, meeting current energy standards without visual clutter on the landscape.
Built By The Mountain
Local contractors deliver the heavy lift—masonry, slab, and envelope—then stitch the reshaped ground back into meadow. Garden and landscaping work make the transition gentle (a small but critical move when winter runs hard off the ridge).
By day, the living room holds light and horizon; by night, timber tones and artwork pull the family inward. The chalet reads anchored yet responsive, tuned to slope, weather, and the long view across the Krkonoše.
Photography by Anna Pleslová
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