Villa Sidonius
Poised like a steel footbridge over a steep slope, Villa Sidonius commands attention from afar. Designed by Stempel & Tesař Architects, the structure is oriented to frame panoramic northern views while welcoming sunlight from the south. Its elevated position atop the hillside offers an expansive outlook over the surrounding natural landscape and the distant city skyline.
Located in Černošice—a residential suburb southwest of Prague—this villa sits within a historic neighborhood known for its distinctive topography and architectural scale. The area offers rare visual access to the Berounka Valley, the limestone formations of the Bohemian Karst, and the Prague skyline. Homes here are often embedded into steep terrain, flanked by stepped pathways and retaining garden walls. Villa Sidonius occupies one of the district’s highest and most dramatic plots, combining urban proximity with a quiet, elevated retreat.
To address the limited solar exposure of the north-facing slope, the architects adopted a suspended design strategy. A bridge-like volume spans across exposed concrete piers, elevating the house above the terrain. The primary structure comprises a steel outer frame made of HEB 300 beams spanning 18 meters, with IPE 160 sections forming the internal framework that supports the windows, roof, and floor slabs. This configuration maximizes daylight and enables seamless vehicular access. Technologically, the house functions as an experimental prototype. It features patented airtight windows from Swiss brand Air-Lux, paired with a heat pump system, underfloor heating, and a ceiling-mounted radiant cooling system. These elements ensure year-round thermal comfort—even in a building with low thermal mass—underscoring the project’s exploration of advanced construction systems.
Access begins at the lower ground level, connecting to a garage, gym, and studio. A tunnel leads to the base of a supporting column, where an elevator ascends to the main living floor. This level features a sunlit, open-plan living area with a kitchen and dining space, fostering fluid daily interaction. A south-facing terrace extends into the upper garden, merging naturally with the sloped landscape and swimming pool. At each end of the elongated volume, the layout separates the children’s wing from the primary suite, ensuring privacy and distinct atmospheres. In collaboration with landscape architect Vladimír Sitta, the design integrates birch trees and slate-covered slopes, forming a continuous dialogue between architecture and terrain. Villa Sidonius is the product of interdisciplinary expertise, merging structural innovation, environmental response, and residential comfort into a singular architectural statement.
Architects | Ján Stempel, Jan Jakub Tesař
Type | Single-Family House
Gross Floor Area | House 322 m² / Garage 135 m²
Materials | Steel (HEB 300 / IPE 160) / Exposed Reinforced Concrete Piers / Lacquered MDF Built-in Furniture
Location | Černošice, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic
