On the shore of a lake in Vojka nad Dunajom, Slovakia, architect Peter Jurkovič designed a compact, 700-square-foot cottage as an escape from the city for a family of five.
“I focused on finding the essence of a holiday home—a complement to family life,” says Jurkovič. “The house serves as a refuge for a family of five living in the capital—an opportunity to spend free time with family and friends in the countryside.”
Photography by Peter Jurkovič.
Above: The view from the cottage, which is on a lake in the Danube River, about a 40-minute drive south of Bratislava (where the family lives year-round).
Above: Intentionally simple, wood-framed windows and white-painted siding do not detract from the natural surroundings.
Above: The one-story bungalow has a wall of glazed folding doors that frame a view of the lake.
Above: A hip roof protects the wooden deck from rain and sun.
Above: The stoop is a single stone slab set in gravel.
Above: Inside is a central living area; the ladder leads to a sleeping platform beneath the hip roof.
Above: The cottage is heated by a freestanding fireplace.
Above: The master bedroom on the first floor has a wall of masonry blocks to absorb and radiate heat from the fireplace in the central room.
Above: A sleeping loft beneath the roof.
Above: The view from the deck.
See more of our favorite holiday homes in more in Garden Visit: A Design Couple’s Scenic Shelter Island Retreat and Landscape Architect Visit: A Classic Lake Michigan Summer House.