Atelier / JAN TYRPEKL

Architects: JAN TYRPEKL
Area: 68 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Antonín Matějovský
Lead Architects: Jan Tyrpekl
Collaboration: Marta Tyrpeklová
City: Stříbrná Skalice
Country: Czech Republic

The Eco Studio, a sustainable building designed by the architects in an undisclosed rural location, innovatively uses recycled materials from prior constructions and family collections. This three-season structure, suitable for work, relaxation, and social gatherings, integrates seamlessly into the landscape, offering stunning views across a valley. The building comprises a studio, a sauna with a beekeeping workshop, and a connecting terrace, promoting a work culture intertwined with relaxation and nature stewardship.

The building emerged from an initiative to repurpose materials gathered from previous constructions and family reserves, including larch terrace boards, spruce facade boards, and profiles for the foundation construction. Windows and most of the insulation materials were reused. Borrowed items such as shroud boards and light equipment also contributed, enabling the construction to be largely self-built with the aid of friends and family.

In Atelier, a significant part of the structure is made from waste materials, meaning leftovers from other constructions that had no use. Utilizing the patina of these old materials led to a camouflaged object.
Interview with Jan Tyrpekl of JAN TYRPEKL

The architects envisioned a multi-functional, three-season building conducive to various activities such as work, relaxation, and family celebrations, or simply serving as an additional guest space. The design thoughtfully engages with its environment, providing expansive views from the site of a former pond to the forest beyond.

Structurally, the building consists of three main segments: the main studio space equipped with essential sanitary facilities, a sauna combined with a beekeeping workshop, and a terrace linking the two areas. This layout facilitates a balance between work and leisure, encouraging relaxation through sauna use or beekeeping.

Architecturally, the building is characterized by a simple, continuous form with a gable roof, featuring north-facing windows to prevent overheating during warmer months. The building’s mass includes niches in the facades for timber storage, which also serve as additional insulation during colder periods.

The foundation relies on concrete footings that support a timber grid structure. This structure comprises a recognized timber frame that houses insulated timber panels. Heating is provided through a combination of a wood-burning stove and the sauna’s heat output.