Villa Sidonius, designed by Stempel & Tesar Architekti, is a bold architectural experiment in the Černošice villa district, known for its blend of early 20th-century Art Nouveau and First Republic villas. Set on one of the steepest plots, the villa offers panoramic views of the Berounka Valley and Prague’s skyline. Despite challenges like limited sunlight and difficult access, the architects embraced these constraints as opportunities to innovate, creating a striking structure that pushes the boundaries of contemporary residential design.
Villa Sidonius Technical Information
- Architects1-5: Stempel & Tesar Architekti
- Location: Černošice, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic
- Area6-11: 322 m2 | 3,450 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 2016 – 2024
- Photographs: © Filip Šlapal
The building thus resembles a steel footbridge placed on a steep slope, where it has been turned to face the best northern views and southern sun.
– Stempel & Tesar Architects
Villa Sidonius Photographs
Architectural Form and Structure: Bridging the Terrain
In response to the site’s steepness and orientation, the architects conceived a house that would not conform to conventional design principles. Instead, Villa Sidonius is a steel footbridge suspended above the ground. The structure is supported by monolithic reinforced concrete pillars, allowing it to perch on the slope like a bridge spanning a gorge. This solution maximizes the villa’s exposure to northern views and the southern sunlight.
The prefabricated steel structure, consisting of HEB 300 profiles for the primary load-bearing sections and IPE 160 profiles for internal construction, allows the villa to span the eighteen-meter distance between the concrete pillars. The decision to create a bridge-like form not only addresses the challenges of the terrain but also redefines the residential typology. The house’s elevated position provides a commanding landscape view while creating a visual connection with the sky and the natural surroundings below.
This form of “hanging house” represents a significant departure from traditional residential designs, offering a practical and architecturally expressive solution. The villa’s elevation allows the living spaces to be positioned higher on the plot, providing better sunlight exposure and a direct connection to the surrounding landscape.
Villa Sidonius Materiality, Technology, and Interiors
Villa Sidonius is as much a technological experiment as an architectural one. The choice of materials and systems reflects the architects’ ambition to push the boundaries of what residential design can achieve. The primary load-bearing structure is steel, with exposed monolithic concrete used for the supporting pillars and the access tunnel that connects the garage to the house. This combination of materials emphasizes the villa’s industrial yet modern aesthetic.
In addition to its structural innovations, Villa Sidonius incorporates state-of-the-art technological solutions. Swiss air-lux windows with patented air-assisted seals ensure airtightness, crucial for a home with such exposed surfaces. To maintain a comfortable indoor climate throughout the year, the villa is equipped with underfloor heating by REHAU and ceiling cooling by UNIVENTA, both of which are powered by heat pumps from STIEBEL ELTRON. These systems work together to provide energy-efficient heating and cooling, essential for a house with low heat storage capacity due to its lightweight steel structure.
The interior layout is equally innovative. The villa is accessed via an underground tunnel that leads from the garage to the foot of one of the concrete pillars. From here, an elevator takes residents up to the living areas, stopping at an intermediate level for access to service rooms. The main living space is organized around a cozy living room that opens onto a south-facing terrace. This terrace connects the villa to the upper part of the steep garden, where a swimming pool is located. The interior spaces are carefully divided, with children’s rooms located at one end of the “bridge” and the master bedroom at the other, ensuring both privacy and a sense of spatial separation.
Villa Sidonius Plans
Villa Sidonius Image Gallery
About Stempel & Tesar architekti
Stempel & Tesar Architekti is a Czech architectural studio founded by Ján Stempel and Jan Jakub Tesař. It is known for its innovative and experimental approach to contemporary architecture. The studio specializes in designing bold, site-responsive projects that push the boundaries of traditional architecture. With a strong focus on blending modern technology, structural experimentation, and environmental harmony, their projects, such as Villa Sidonius, showcase a commitment to excellence and forward-thinking design. Both founders bring extensive experience and international expertise, creating a unique synergy that defines the studio’s work.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Architecture Studio: Stempel & Tesar architekti
- Lead Architects: Ján Stempel, Jan Jakub Tesař
- Landscape Architect: Vladimír Sitta
- Main Project Engineer: Aleš Herold
- Structural Engineers: Jiří Chodora, Jan Vesecký (Valbek)
- Plot Size: 1673 m²
- Built-up Area: House: 330 m², Garage: 135 m²
- Gross Floor Area: 322 m²
- Usable Floor Area: 294 m²
- Dimensions: 28 x 8 m (224 m² footprint)
- Volume: 1680 m³
