Hideg-ház stands out amongst sculptural cliffs and friendly hillside woods on the outskirts of Kőszeg, a charming historical town in Hungary.
The site had been used as a quarry a few centuries ago, and the exposed rock face was one of the strongest elements of the environment. In order to get enough direct sunlight year-round while staying close to the sculptural cliffs, the building was placed about 10 meters above the road that runs along the bottom of the valley.
"An abstract footprint of a family's lifestyle—perhaps these are the best words to describe the floor plan," says architect Attila Béres. The wooden cabin floats a few steps above the natural terrain, and the two parts are tied together by the thick black frame of the home. The separate units within this frame allow space for a covered outdoor terrace that acts as the central space of the cabin, with its perfect views of the colorful forms of the exposed rocks and the woods on the south side.
Natural lights and views of the surrounding nature were the most important factors affecting the arrangement of the space. The solid, open surfaces of the 110-square-meter building react to these elements: large but shaded openings face the best views on the south side, and glimpses of the rock are available from accentuated spots on the north.
The contrast between the rough, black-stained larch cladding on the exterior surfaces and the same material with a natural finish and a smooth surface on the interior leads visitors inside. The clean white interior walls reflect the random colors of the sky and the surroundings.
The building is located in a country with a very diverse climate. Hot summers and cold winters mean that a smart mix of architectural decisions are required to keep the cabin comfortable and easy to run all year. The clients had a clear concept about what they wanted in terms of building services and comfort. A combination of high-tech and simple ecological solutions resulted in extremely low energy consumption and moderate building cost.
Hideg-ház is the first project realized by Attila Béres and Jusztina Balázs. Their young architecture firm started the design of this building in 2009, when Mr. Hideg noticed Attila Béres in Wallpaper Magazine's Graduate Directory, an annual list of talented young architects. Detailed design and construction of the cabin finished in 2013.
Mr. Hideg and his wife spent 3 years on site to build this precisely detailed and custom-tailored house by hand. They carried out almost every phase of construction, from cleaning the cliffs to building custom furniture. Their devotion and insistent enthusiasm was of utmost importance to the design and construction process of this holiday home.
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