Pendulum Magazine

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HOUSE FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER || A Home with Perfect Natural Lighting for a Family to Work, Rest and Play

What would the ideal home for a photographer look like?

Awash in an abundance of natural light, with large-format windows and a floating staircase that encourages the interplay of light and shadow. Nestled in the heart of nature so you’re never short of a breathtaking outdoor backdrop. Situated on grassy, rolling hills, so every landscape photo can be framed like a painting. Every corner is effortlessly designed and stylized to be photo-worthy; whether it’s the way the shadow falls perfectly across the floorboards or the subtle orientation of the staircase steps.

These are just some of the many ways in which this project by ValArch ateliér, named House for a Photographer, lives up to its name.

Sharp, clean lines.

Situated on a meadow under a forest, the ValArch ateliér team makes use of the terrain’s height difference by neatly tucking a courtyard into the landscape’s natural curves. This provides privacy for the living area on the first floor, while the upper-level attic is still treated to lots of natural light with the gable windows.

The main floor of the living area extends out onto a mini courtyard protected by a dip in the grassy meadow. The exterior is defined by sharp lines, and large format windows are used to draw in natural light to each floor of the home.

The kitchen, dining and living room on the first floor look out to the courtyard, and the light source is designed to come in from both sides. Photographers are manipulators of light, and a home filled with natural light is a treat, as this means perfect lighting for every corner of the home. The floating staircase adds a modern touch to the simple architectural form, while also making more room for storage space under the steps — a stylish and practical touch.

The main floor also houses another wing, where the family shares a bedroom and bathroom. a meadow rooftop sits atop this section of the home.

The large format windows act as picture frames for still life scenes.

The living space on the main floor extends onto a mini courtyard protected by the gentle slopes of the meadow.

Stairs from the first floor living area lead up to the attic, which is divided in half. One half is the photography studio, which has sliding doors leading to the meadow roof that sits on top of the bedroom and bathroom wing on the ground floor. The second half is dominated by the children, giving them a view of the Wallachian hills through the glass gable.

House for a Photographer integrates work, rest, and play into its intentional design and layout, offering the family room to socialize and compartmentalizing the workspace into the upstairs attic for when one needs some quiet time to get work done.

The high attic houses a photography studio and children’s playroom.

House for a photographer is where creatives and their family can live, work, and play.

PROJECT DETAILS

Studio: ValArch ateliér (Instagram)

Client: Přemysl Jurča, Tereza Jurčová

Project Location: Valašská Bystřice

Project Country: Czech Republic

Completion Year: 2018

Built-up Area: 150 m²

Gross Floor Area: 125 m²

Photographer: BoysPlayNice