Lipí is a small settlement of houses high up on a hill above the provincial town of Náchod in eastern Bohemia, Czech Republic. The large property, purchased by Jiří and Milena Zeiner to accomodate their interest in horses and nature, is situated at the end of a country road surrounded by fields and forests. A few hundered meters to the east, the property is neighbored by Dobrošov, the site of a local architectural jewel, the fairytale-like Dobrošov Tower designed by the Czech architect Dušan Jurkovič in the early 1930's. Jurkovič oposed the school of functionalistic architecture and is famous for his love of traditional use of wood.

       Thanks to its remarkable 360 degree view, (Náchod backed by mountains to the north, the large Bohemian plateau to the west and the hilly, forested countryside to the south and east) Dobrošov Tower is a frequently visited tourist spot. After Gorbatchev's implementation of perestroika in 1989, the Zeiners started to draw their own picture of freedom. They imagined a new house, horses, a summer camp for children and a training ranch in the beautiful countryside.

       Presented here in Projects is the family house, one of the buildings designed for the Horse Ranch. Wood, raw brick and concrete are the materials used to capture the feeling of Jurkovič in the neighborhood.

       Worth mentioning is the magnificent view to the west from the master bedroom, a wide plateau and enormous lake with Czech villages in the background as far as the eye can see. On the second floor a double height living room rises to the roof. Bedrooms on the third floor cluster around the central spiral staircase lit by a round skylight. This space is the key to the house. It gives a circular feeling and enables natural ventilation.