Šestajovice House by mackovič architecture: Black-Clad Czech Gabled Home

This article examines Šestajovice House, a calm, contemporary villa on Prague’s eastern edge. It was designed by Jan Mackovič of mackovič architecture.

With a compact 154 m² footprint, the project answers a young family’s need for spaciousness on a standard home budget. The design uses restrained materials and precise composition to optimize daylight, privacy, and south-facing views.

Published on ArchDaily on 22 February 2026, the project also credits manufacturers D‑Smržovský, MASKOP 99, and VRTAŇA‑PODLAHY. This highlights the collaborative craft behind its refined, contemporary style.

Overview: a compact, daylight-driven family villa on Prague’s edge

The design treats interior volumes as a dialogue with the exterior. This approach creates generous experiences without expanding the floor area.

Soft southern light shapes a calm atmosphere. The siting anchors the house in its urban and landscape context.

Careful orientation, modest detailing, and economical construction methods balance intimacy and openness.

Design approach: economy, composition, and daylight as core strategies

Daylight is a primary design element. The architecture prioritizes the relationship between interior spaces and the exterior envelope.

Natural light fills the living spaces and frames exterior views. Restrained material choices and careful detailing create refined spatial effects without excess.

• Orientation and massing optimize daylight and south-facing outlooks.
• Interior-exterior relationship creates seamless thresholds and framed views.
• Economy of materials sustains a serene atmosphere.
• Landscape interaction integrates the building with its context and reinforces privacy.
• Contemporary language is maintained through restrained, durable detailing.

Spatial strategy and material language

With a footprint of 154 m², the house remains compact and highly organized. Every square meter contributes to daylight access and outdoor views.

The interior volumes are carefully read against the exterior envelope. Generosity is achieved through proportion, light, and views rather than size.

Material choices are deliberately restrained. This supports a serene atmosphere aligned with a contemporary, budget-conscious approach.

Daylight, volumes, and atmosphere

The design relies on precise composition. Volumes establish clear relationships to the site, while apertures and glazing maximize natural light and maintain privacy.

Daylight shapes room proportions. The calm, legible exterior language reinforces its contemporary character.

Landscape, siting, and privacy

Landscape and siting are active design elements. The building is embedded in its context, with outdoor spaces arranged to complement living areas and shield private zones from the street.

This integration enhances calm and security. It also improves the south-oriented views that define the villa’s character.

Contextual performance and craft

The project engages with local craft and production. A measured approach to siting, landscape, and material restraint creates a home that feels both intimate and generous.

The architecture respects a family budget while delivering a contemporary language that endures over time.

ArchDaily feature, credits, and implications for practice

The project was published on ArchDaily on 22 February 2026. It highlights Šestajovice House as a model of how economy and design clarity can produce high-quality living spaces.

The collaboration with manufacturers D‑Smržovský, MASKOP 99, and VRTAŇA‑PODLAHY shows how a carefully chosen supply chain supports a refined architectural language. The project serves as a case study in turning modest means into significant spatial and daylight outcomes, while maintaining privacy and integration with the landscape.

Key takeaways for practitioners include: prioritize daylight as a design driver and craft interior volumes with respect to exterior context. It is also important to align budget, materials, and landscape to sustain a serene contemporary expression.

In a city on the cusp of new urban forms, Šestajovice House demonstrates how a compact plan and thoughtful orientation can deliver a home that is both calm and generous. It stands as a quiet landmark on Prague’s eastern edge, reflecting contemporary living with clarity and restraint.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Šestajovice House / mackovič architecture