This leaning house is an innovative concept created by Czech architecture agency Uhlik Architekti, which includes architects Petr Uhlik, Jan Sorm, and Premysl Jurak. The home, called Forest Retreat, is constructed in a diagonal formation with the upper section resting upon a giant boulder.
The agency developed the idea for their client who requested a hideaway that could serve as a quiet escape from the urban chaos of his life in Prague. “We set off into an area between Central and South Bohemia where [the client] comes from and where he has loved going to since his childhood,” says the agency. “He took us to a spot in the midst of fields, woods, and meadows, full of strange boulders, to a remote and somewhat forgotten place.”
To construct the home, which measures 10×20 feet, the architects used wood and fallen trees found along the owner's land in the forest, as well as skills from local craftsmen. The main flat room offers space for one person to stand and gaze out at the landscape through the large, floor-to-ceiling glass entryway. Large steps lead up towards a second window that offers a second view of the forest. Each step functions as a resting place as well as storage and, additionally, one of the benches can be turned over to create a double bed. Overall, the multifunctional house is a simple space where the owner can enjoy a quiet escape from city living.
