Garden Pavilion

How do you imagine spending a leisurely weekend? Perhaps in a secluded timber hideaway just beyond the city’s edge—reading quietly in solitude, or sharing slow conversations with loved ones against the backdrop of a green lawn. The Garden Pavilion by BYRÓ architekti was conceived precisely for such moments. Located within a garden community near the Vltava River, only a ten-minute walk from the owner’s apartment, the pavilion offers an accessible yet serene escape in the middle of Prague. BYRÓ architekti recognized the contemporary urban yearning for nature and the need for intimate spaces that allow time to slow down. Tasked with replacing a dilapidated garden shed, the architects responded to the surrounding fabric of imperfect, irregular wooden cabins—imbued with a certain romantic looseness—by designing a small, climate-adaptive structure. The result is a cozy, multipurpose space: a summer refuge for occasional overnight stays, and a winter shelter for potted plants, all while inviting year-round enjoyment of the outdoors.

From the outset, the brief called for a compact structure that would not sever the connection with its surrounding landscape. This challenge prompted the design team to explore ways of merging building and garden as fluidly as possible. Their solution: a fully operable folding façade. Built from spruce timber using standard 2×4 framing, the two-level pavilion features a front elevation clad in translucent polycarbonate panels, which can be folded open with ease thanks to a system of steel cables, pulleys, and counterweights. A single person can effortlessly transform the enclosure, allowing the interior to spill into the garden, blurring the boundaries between architecture and nature. On rainy days, the opened façade doubles as a canopy, extending the shelter and keeping inhabitants dry without retreating indoors.

The structure’s exterior is finished in dark charred wood using the shou sugi ban technique, allowing it to harmonize with the natural setting while also offering resistance against insects and weathering. This protective shell contrasts with the light, airy interior crafted from pale wood. The side walls are finished with lime plaster, while the rear wall integrates a built-in bookshelf and a timber ladder leading to the upper level. Despite the pavilion’s modest footprint, small operable side windows, skylights, and the folding façade together ensure an abundance of soft, natural light throughout the day—even when the doors are closed, the space remains bright and inviting. Though minimal in amenities, the Garden Pavilion offers a sustainable and poetic model for modern living—a place where simplicity enables deeper breath, and proximity to nature becomes an everyday ritual.