/
This small building, set in a beautiful, mature garden, was created by combining a prosaic requirement—adding a garage—with the task of creating a pool house that serves as a home gym. The pavilion-like structure opens up with generous glazing on two sides, facing both the water and the greenery. Once the facade is opened, it becomes part of the garden, having been positioned with respect for the existing trees. The fact that a double garage is hidden on the opposite side, higher up the slope, is not at all apparent from the perspective of the house's users. We took advantage of the building being set into the slope to achieve a generous ceiling height in the gym area while maintaining a single roof plane level with the adjacent structure. Despite its small footprint, the fitness space feels airy, with two of its sides featuring subtle floor-to-ceiling glazing. A cantilever, extending more than 3 meters over the terrace by the pool, helps prevent overheating. The placement of the building had clear boundaries; we respected the existing trees, structures, and the pool, with the goal that the new addition would blend seamlessly with the established and functional surroundings. The fitness space has an open layout, featuring an inserted T-shaped green wall that conceals the sanitary facilities—a sink and a shower. The dark, almost black floor is designed as a specialized sports surface, and the exercise machines and dumbbells are detailed to match a specific shade of green. The curtains and light fixtures are intentionally designed to provide a soft contrast to the concrete wall and the building's functional purpose. The materiality of the building is subordinate to the desired blending with the surroundings. The facade color is white, matching the plaster of the houses on the property. Large glass surfaces optically connect the interior with the garden. The interior is dominated by the view itself. It is complemented by color-neutral surfaces—the wall facing the garage is finished in exterior plaster, while the wall that is structurally reinforced concrete has been left exposed. The floor is also monochromatic and dark. Only the inserted wall separating the sanitary facilities is distinguished by a subtle color and the texture of the ceramic tiles. The structural design of the building was particularly interesting in terms of the large roof cantilever, which we wanted to be as subtle as possible, combined with floor-to-ceiling windows. The result is a wall structure with a roof made of steel beams. Technologically, the building is cooled and heated by a heat pump.
Ing. Robert Provazník