Giant shutters close off the towering facade of Wardrobe House, a rectangular wooden home in the Czech Republic designed by local studio Šépka Architekti.

Located in Prague's Ořechovka district, the home is modelled on a footed wardrobe, with a tall and narrow form that is raised on legs and openable on one side.

Šépka Architekti has completed Wardrobe House in Prague

Šépka Architekti designed Wardrobe House for a client who wanted to provide two of their children with independent living space, as the family was outgrowing their existing villa. It sits at the rear of their garden.

Much like a wardrobe, it was prefabricated as a kit of wooden parts, allowing it to be quickly assembled on site.

Its design is modelled on a legged wardrobe

"The inspiration for both the house and its name was its resemblance to a wardrobe standing on legs," studio founder Jan Šépka told Dezeen.

"From the very beginning, I envisioned a timber structure that could be largely prefabricated in the workshop. The entire house essentially functions like a construction kit," he continued.

"Given the initial inspiration – a wardrobe – I didn't really consider any other material solution."

It was prefabricated from wood and steel

Wardrobe House was positioned among trees at the back of the client's garden to ensure it does not visually impact the existing home, which dates back to the early 20th century.

"I didn't want to build an extension onto the existing house, so I designed a small, detached house nestled among the trees," said Šépka.

"I wanted the new house to have an understated presence, so I positioned it at the back of the garden, where there is a row of mature trees. This way, the Wardrobe House doesn't compete with the existing house or the surrounding buildings."

A patio sits under the house

The lower section of Wardrobe House was built from steel components that were prefabricated in a workshop and installed on-site using a crane. Micropiles were used to minimise damage to neighbouring tree roots.

This steel frame supports the living spaces above and encloses a covered seating area and entrance to the home, which is accessed by a spiral staircase.

Read: TIMM Architecture fronts House of Iron Doors with weathered steel shutters

Meanwhile, the three-storey upper section was crafted from timber, with each level built in the workshop and lifted into position by a crane in just one day. Plywood panels line the facade.

The first floor contains the shared kitchen and dining space, with two individual bedrooms for the children, Ema and Jan, on the two floors above. Each bedroom has its own toilet and a shower and an additional fold-down bed.

A spiral staircase provides access

With a floor plan measuring just five by 2.5 metres, Šépka said the building is "a reflection on how little space a person really needs for living".

"The total usable area of ​​the house is only 34 square metres," he said. "Nevertheless, it can accommodate a kitchen, two rooms, bathrooms, storage spaces and sleeping space for several people."

The first floor contains a kitchen and dining space

The rooms are lined almost entirely with plywood panels matching the facade. This includes walls and built-in furniture and storage, including kitchen cabinetry and even shower enclosures.

"I wanted the interior to feel unified and cohesive," said Šépka. "The cabinets and shelves have no doors, so everything is visible, which was intentional. This allows each room to have a slightly different atmosphere depending on what is stored in it."

There are two ensuite bedrooms on the floors above

The only fully openable elevation is lined with large panes of glass overlooking the surrounding trees, but these can be easily closed off with the shutters if desired.

Other houses bordered by shutters include the House of Iron Doors, which TIMM Architecture fronted with weathered steel, and Hale Napo'o, a beachfront residence in Hawaii with a variety of wooden storm screens.

The photography is by Aleš Jungmann.

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