Villa Sidonius Bridges Innovation and Design

In the Central Bohemian Region of Prague, the villa district of Černošice boasts an eclectic collection of residences that reflect the architectural heritage of the early 20th century. Villa Sidonius by two brilliant architects, Ján Stempel and Jan Jakub Tesař, is a villa here that hovers gracefully on steel supports, turning for the best northern views and the southern sun. 

Known for its Art Nouveau and First Republic homes, this area of Černošice has long attracted those eager to create iconic residences. After 1989, Černošice once again became a popular place to construct showcase residential buildings. Villa Sidonius, created by Studio Stempel & Tesar architekti, rises to this challenge with a visionary design that fuses innovative architecture and cutting-edge technology, embodying both the area’s prestige and reputation for bold residential design.

Professor Ján Stempel, a prominent Czech architect, has built a distinguished career spanning 40 years. He started at the renowned SIAL studio and later co-founded ADNS, where he gained substantial experience. His current partner, Jan Jakub Tesař, a generation younger, studied architecture at the University of Delft in the Netherlands and trained at Jeanne Dekker’s studio. During his graduation, Stempel invited this talented student to collaborate, marking the beginning of Stempel & Tesař, a practice blending tradition and innovative architectural insight.

Villa Sidonius stands on one of the most challenging plots in Černošice, located on a steep northern slope of Babka Hill. While this orientation grants breathtaking views of the Berounka Valley, the Bohemian Karst hills, and the Prague skyline, it also brings unique design challenges. The architects, Ján Stempel and Jan Jakub Tesař, opted for a suspended, bridge-like form to address the site’s difficulties with both access and sunlight, resulting in a villa that appears to hover gracefully on steel supports, turned to face the best northern views and southern sun.

The Elevated Bridge Design

The villa’s steel frame spans 18 meters across reinforced concrete pillars, creating a bridge-like form that elevates the residence above the rugged terrain. This bridge design maximises the plot’s scenic advantages and allows for easier access and additional sunlight exposure.

The load-bearing steel structure is built from HEB 300 profiles, with internal support provided by IPE 160 profiles. This prefabricated steel design is a structural feat, allowing the villa to ‘float’ above the hillside, bringing a sleek, modern aesthetic that departs from traditional construction methods. This approach enhances the villa’s appearance while providing a functional solution to its challenging site.

High-Tech Features for Comfort and Sustainability

Villa Sidonius incorporates a range of technological innovations that make it a pioneer in sustainable residential design.

One highlight is the use of Swiss-made air-lux windows with patented air-assisted seals, ensuring an airtight environment that conserves energy in the colder climate. Additionally, a sophisticated heating and cooling system with heat pumps maintains a comfortable indoor climate year-round, an essential feature for a home built with low heat retention. This system allows for efficient climate control while aligning with the villa’s minimalist environmental footprint.

Underground Tunnel Access

One of the villa’s most unique design features is its entryway. Instead of a traditional ground-level entrance, Villa Sidonius has an underground tunnel that leads from the garage to the main living area. This tunnel includes spaces for a studio and fitness area, providing functional, multi-purpose zones within the subterranean level.

At the end of the tunnel, an elevator brings residents to the main level, stopping midway at a service room. This vertical movement, replacing conventional staircases, gives the villa a futuristic touch and maximises space on the steep slope.

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living

At the heart of Villa Sidonius lies an open-plan living room with a kitchen and dining area, where large windows allow natural light to flood the space. The room opens onto a south-facing terrace, which links the interior to the villa’s verdant landscape.

The terrace provides access to a higher garden area with a swimming pool, taking advantage of the property’s sunniest spot. The ‘bridge’ structure separates the children’s rooms on one end and the master bedroom with a bath and scenic views on the other, creating distinct living zones within the linear layout. This spatial arrangement ensures privacy and functionality, with each zone offering access to both interior and exterior views.

Landscape Integration

A close collaboration between the architects and landscape architect Vladimír Sitta added a unique dimension to the project. Sitta’s design includes a slate-covered slope adorned with birch trees, complementing the villa’s architectural form while anchoring the structure within its natural surroundings.

The slate and birch design not only enhances visual appeal but also provides functional benefits, such as erosion control on the steep site. Other outdoor elements, including the swimming pool and various landscaping details, were the result of this collaborative process, underscoring the project’s holistic approach to blending architecture and landscape.

The owner’s active involvement in every phase of the project was instrumental in shaping Villa Sidonius. This close collaboration allowed the architects to refine the design based on the owner’s vision, resulting in a home that is not only visually striking but also deeply personalised. The client’s input influenced numerous design aspects, from spatial layout to finishing touches, giving Villa Sidonius a sense of authenticity and alignment with its surroundings.

Material Choices

The choice of materials reflects Villa Sidonius’s industrial-modern aesthetic. The primary load-bearing structure is crafted from durable HEB 300 steel profiles, while exposed concrete pillars provide additional support and lend a rugged look to the villa’s exterior.

Inside, custom-built furniture made from lacquered MDF completes the minimalist interiors, emphasizing clean lines and a cohesive color palette that enhances the home’s modern feel. This attention to detail in materials contributes to the villa’s unified aesthetic and practical resilience.

Villa Sidonius by Studio Stempel & Tesar architekti is more than a home; it’s a pioneering experiment in blending advanced architecture with state-of-the-art technology.

With structural engineering by Valbek and sun-shade solutions by APAGON, this residence exemplifies collaborative creativity. This unique residence, poised on a hillside in Černošice, pushes the boundaries of residential design by combining form, function, and environmental harmony.