Villa Troja by Stempel & Tesar architekti
Unoccupied for many years, a site at the foot of a hill in Prague’s Troja district now holds Villa Troja, a house designed by Stempel & Tesar architekti that aims to balance busy life on the outside with peace and privacy within. Concrete was a firm requirement for the project, both for the exterior and interior, allowing the functional spatial composition to highlight its unique properties in terms of mass, texture, and color.
Concealed Hilltop Site
At the foot of a hill, within a mature urban fabric bordered by a tram line, a small vacant gap remained undeveloped for many years. It lies in Prague’s Troja district — a beautiful and diverse residential neighbourhood showcasing homes from various eras, including contemporary award-winning family houses.
Scuptural Design Exceeds Traditional Brief
What began as a fairly traditional brief in terms of room number and size was complemented by a clear and uncompromising vision regarding the materiality of the structure. Concrete did not emerge through discussion — it was a firm and non-negotiable requirement from the client, both for the exterior and interior. This opened the door to fully explore the unique properties and potential of concrete in terms of mass, texture, and color.
Noise Protection Results in Private Oasis
The result is not “just” a sculptural house, but a thoughtful, functional spatial composition with a logical layout of rooms. The site’s main disadvantage — its immediate proximity to a tram line — ruled out opening the living areas toward the southeast and the entrance side. This prompted us to shield the house on that side, protecting it from the noise of the busy track. Thanks to extended walls, not only the rooms but also the garden’s living area becomes a secluded oasis of peace and privacy.
Distinct Textures Divide Ground and Upper Floors
The intention to visually separate the ground floor from the upper level is underscored by two distinct tones and textures of concrete. The base, made with board-formed concrete and pigment, is dark and tactile, while the upper floor is light and smooth. The ground floor blends with the garden; its walls seamlessly transition into the hillside’s retaining structures, while the almost white upper volume merges with the sky.
Thermal Insulation Requirements Overcome by Sandwich Wall Construction
Using exposed concrete for both exterior and interior called for a sandwich wall construction to meet thermal insulation requirements. The concreting was done in two stages: first, the inner load-bearing exposed concrete walls were cast, then insulated, followed by casting a thinner exterior facing layer, known as the “monierka.” The concrete pour also had to account for recessed connection joints for the window frames.
Enhanced Climate Control Contributes to Comfort
Thanks to concrete’s excellent thermal mass and the shaded glazed areas created by protruding structures, the house maintains a comfortable indoor climate throughout both summer and winter. The underfloor heating is powered by a heat pump.
Interior Boundaries Yield Unique Original Design
The interior is structured with custom built-in furniture made of birch veneer, which separates individual rooms. The light-colored veneer harmonizes with the texture of the concrete — in both materials, every minor imperfection and natural pattern makes each square meter a unique original.
Photography by Filip Šlapal
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