en.Wedoany.com Reported - Czech architecture firm Facha architekti has completed a renovation project in Brtev, Lázně Bělohrad, Czech Republic, transforming a century-old barn into a modern residence named "La Caja en el Granero" (The Box in the Barn). Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, the design team inserted a standalone residential volume within the existing agricultural structure.
Initially planned for seasonal use, the project ensures winter comfort through insulation and underfloor heating. The barn itself acts as a natural climate barrier, protecting the internal volume from excessive summer heat and harsh weather.
The first impression encapsulates the project's core: old wood and black asphalt, separated by centuries, coexist in the same frame. The new volume does not attempt to blend with the barn but deliberately presents a contemporary feel, structurally independent and visually honest. The tension between old and new is not a problem to be solved but the central theme of the project.
One of the most meaningful design decisions is the slight elevation of the inserted volume above the original barn floor. The historic threshing floor continues to extend freely beneath the new structure, remaining untouched. This decision respects the site's memory, reinforcing the idea that "the new is a visitor, not the master."
The architects identified a visual axis running through both sides of the barn, from the inner courtyard to the old apple orchard and then to the open landscape. The interior layout, the position of large panoramic windows, and the dining table are all aligned along this axis.
The kitchen, bathroom, and storage spaces are resolved with a single compact black MDF volume, contrasting with the warmth of the surrounding birch wood. This is the only element that echoes the building's exterior color scheme, creating a chromatic continuity between inside and out.
Completed last year, the project was designed by the four-member Facha architekti firm. The firm states that its work is based on rational analysis but believes intuition and passion are irreplaceable and often more important than precise parameters.
The project proposes a different response to sustainability: adapt to what already exists, rather than demolish and start from scratch. Preserving the structure, respecting its character, and extending its lifespan become the core strategies.
Inside, the project champions restraint, with no decoration or superfluous gestures. Natural materials carry the entire role, creating a warm and coherent modern space.
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