House of Courtyards on Elle Decor

Translation from Czech

By ANNA POVEJŠILOVÁ

Photography by JAMES JOHN JETEL

As you approach the front door from the gravel driveway, you’re instantly aware that this idyllic site holds surprises. The deep gray entrance—subtle and restrained—sits within a quiet courtyard. To one side: a carport. To the other: the main house. Everything appears modest—until you step through the door. Once inside, you’re swept into a world of shifting perspectives. Framed views reveal layer upon layer of space, and it’s often hard to tell whether you’re looking in or out. The rooms, muted and seemingly delicate, open onto poetic in-between spaces that offer a moment of stillness—and wonder.

Designed by New York-based architecture and design studio alepreda, founded by the versatile Italian-born architect Alessandro Preda, the house was created as a holiday residence for a college friend and his family. With natural materials and handcrafted details, the home offers a sense of refuge while embracing the rhythms of nature—a particular balm for city dwellers arriving from the concrete jungle. “Courtyards, glazed walls, and large sliding windows allow the house to expand and contract with the seasons,” Preda explains.

This flexibility allows the family to fully experience the changing environment—from snow-covered winters to blooming spring wildflowers, lush summer grasses, and the dramatic foliage of fall. The foyer, fully glazed on both sides, draws the eye across the main courtyard to a grove of oaks, maples, birches, ashes, and beeches.

The site spans nearly 12 acres. “To heighten interaction with the landscape, we carefully framed views—toward a tree, a natural pond, drifting clouds, or sloping hills—and designed courtyards of varying openness,” says Preda. These moments evoke the lyrical landscapes of Gustav Klimt or Peter Doig, transforming nature into living artwork.

The boundary between inside and out is unusually fluid, and the building process was equally unorthodox. Architect and client were not only close friends but shared a design sensibility. Preda tested details and prepared shop drawings in his Brooklyn workshop, which the homeowner and his brother then used to build components themselves: a white oak staircase railing, teak bathroom cabinetry, exterior concrete pavers, and planters. These tactile elements are rich with regional character and personal meaning.

Material contrasts are masterfully balanced. Clad in wood siding, the structure echoes vernacular American buildings, yet its palette is restrained—marble, teak, and other noble materials are used with deliberate simplicity, never veering into excess. Interiors defer to the outdoors, inviting contemplation and offering glimpses of nature from unexpected angles.

The connection goes deeper: the hearth and kitchen counters are soapstone, the flooring and cabinetry made of oak harvested from nearby forests. The house and its surroundings are intimately attuned—each reflecting and reinforcing the other.

Alepreda’s architectural vision extends down to the smallest details. The studio designed the entire structure, created bespoke solutions throughout, and furnished the interiors with pieces from Alessandro’s furniture brand, Miduny. He even painted a series of minimalist artworks specifically for the house. The result is a true gesamtkunstwerk—a total work of art born of Italian craftsmanship, Central European sensitivity, and American light.

Highlights from the Interiors:

• The east-facing living room opens toward forested hills and a pond to the northeast. The soft, green-tinted light reflects the trembling leaves.
• The soapstone fireplace—designed by Preda—offers a velvety, almost soapy texture. Nearly all functional and decorative elements were custom-made.
• The home office doubles as a guest room and is accessed via a courtyard. The ebonized oak desk is from Miduny.
• In the bath, a full-height window opens directly to the landscape. Marble cladding is paired with teak cabinetry and a teak floor in the shower, adding warmth.
• The covered porch runs alongside the courtyard, creating a sheltered outdoor zone. A similar overhang on the opposite side allows year-round enjoyment of the outdoors—even in rain.
• A hidden stair, crafted by the homeowners using Preda’s prototype, is tucked behind a secret door off the living room.
• In the bedroom, the wall paneling acts as a headboard. The planks are staggered in width, mirroring the façade’s pattern.