In a woodland clearing in the Czech Republic, House LO stands as a testament to refined design and experimentation. Designed by Ateliér Lina Bellovičová, the home is built almost entirely from hempcrete – a bio-based material not often used in the region.
In this project, hempcrete is the project’s defining fabric. The two “stone-like” volumes that anchor the plan are cast from the material, giving the house its mass, insulation and atmospheric softness. Hempcrete’s slow petrification process naturally draws carbon dioxide from the air, locking it into the walls over time. As a material, it’s vapour-open, fire-resistant, pest-resistant and endlessly recyclable, creating an envelope that performs while treading lightly.
A thin timber roof plane spans between these hempcrete forms, with a generous overhang that shelters an outdoor terrace running the perimeter of the house. Inside, the void between the two volumes becomes the living zone – a space edged by large sliding windows that dissolve the boundary between interior and forest. Below, a cellar accommodates technical spaces, storage and a dedicated darkroom for the client, who is a photographer.
The green roof completes the system, offering insulation while visually tucking the house back into the landscape. Over time, the building will soften further into its setting, evolving from a young family’s woodland home to a flexible retreat across generations. House LO demonstrates how hempcrete supports low-impact building, and does so in a way that is attuned to nature’s pace.
Photography by BoysPlayNice
