08.07.2025
House Oskar
House Oskar, designed by architect Jan Žaloudek, sits within a spacious garden that once belonged to a neighboring château in the South Bohemian village of Kamenná Lhota. Surrounded by mature trees, the remnants of a Baroque barn, and a historic stone wall, the site’s strong genius loci anchors the project in its rural context.
Conceived by the architect and his wife, art historian Jolanta Trojak, the house is a place for contemplation, inspiration, and recreation—a retreat that invites its residents to connect with the landscape and nurture creativity. Every detail transforms daily rituals into meaningful experiences, making the house a serene microcosm for living, reading, dining, and creating.
The design responds to the protected setting and local topography, referencing traditional gabled farmhouses and agricultural buildings. Its compact volume features perforated masonry and niches that echo Baroque forms while controlling light and views. Materials—insulated ceramic masonry, concrete, white stucco, fired ceramic roof tiles, and whitewashed Czech timber—blend with the surrounding structures and landscape.
Large glazed openings and wooden terraces extend the interior into the orchard, stream, and garden, dissolving boundaries between inside and out. Light and shadow are modulated by white wooden shading panels, which create a dynamic interplay throughout the day and night.
Inside, the chapel-like main living space rises to a seven-meter vaulted ceiling, with a circular window framing views of the courtyard and barn ruins. A sculptural wooden kitchen island of Indian granite anchors the home’s daily rituals like an altar. Custom furniture, art pieces—from Czech Modernist paintings to African carvings—and Japanese washi lanterns enrich the calm interior.
The upper floor offers a private, cocoon-like apartment with a studio, perfect for reflection and creative work. The entire house is designed as a living Gesamtkunstwerk, inspired by its namesake, composer Oskar Nedbal. Open for short stays, artist residencies, or cultural gatherings, House Oskar invites a community to share in its spirit of quiet inspiration.
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