JRKVC designs a Slovak cabin inspired by yurts

Inspired by circular yurts, the famous traditional homes of the nomadic communities of Central Asia, progressive Slovakian architecture studio JRKVC has created an intimate holiday retreat for a creative couple. 

Peter Jurkovič of studio JRKVC, was included in Wallpaper’s Architects’ Directory in 2017, and has a reputation for leading one of the most prolific young practices across both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. His fairly low-cost concepts are often modest in form, but always offer intriguing spatial solutions that give birth to anything from individual houses to apartment interiors; always featuring surprising details and unorthodox approaches. 

His latest creation is ‘Attila’ a small cabin by a lake, which he designed for a cosmopolitan creative couple working in Bratislava. The clients wanted to be able to swap the city rush with the romantic landscape of Vojka nad Dunajom, just 20 kilometres from the Slovakian capital. The couple had always been impressed by the lightweight and mobile nature of nomadic homes; the portable, round tents of yurts, which are traditionally covered with skins or felt and used mostly in Mongolia. These homes became the architect’s main inspiration. 

Jurkovič designed the house using a rectangular layout, but placing a circular space at its heart, referencing the yurts. The main living areas sit beneath this central dome, which features an elegant, yet tall and minimalist wooden ceiling structure that gives the space its airy character. From this main living room, doors and passages lead to the other parts of the house. Built-in shelves hide a compact kitchen on one side and a bunk-bed bed on the other. Built-in alcove seating is also incorporated. 

The exterior is covered in a standard black plastic film, used normally for insulation. This is in turn wrapped in a layer of timber lattice panels, a gesture that gives the house its strong geometric presence; making this compact holiday retreat, a particularly memorable one.

INFORMATION

For more information visit the website (opens in new tab) of JRKVC