Hunting Ranch by SeARCH
This ranch for a businessman and professional hunter is situated on a 100.000 acre estate of organic farmlands and dense forest in the Lower Carpatians, where wild game is monitored and maintained.
Herds of over 100 roe deer, red dear and wild boar can be discovered while hiking through the forest and farmland. The Hunting Ranch is comprised of four timber houses, which are arranged in a village or hamlet-like setting, for the family, relatives and guests.
Above ground four timber houses are arranged in a village or hamlet-like setting, and below this, a hefty 3000m2 of supporting programme is tucked inconspiciously into the hillside.
The design of the “Hunting Ranch”, aims to balance contradictory sentiments; providing a space where one can retreat back in time and get in touch with the elements while still satisfying a desire for all the luxuries and comforts of a contemporary lodge.
It achieves this by placing a series of individual timber houses; the master’s ‘Lake House’, the relatives’ ‘Forest House’, and the ‘Guest House’ above a large, interconnected foundation which quietly supports a luxury stay in nature.
This foundation is embedded into the sloping hillside. Below ground is a considerable amount of auxiliary and amenity space which links all the houses together; including technical rooms, a ten-car garage, wine cellar, security spaces, a cinema, wellness space, a fitness area and a large reception room.
This vertical separation means it is easy to adapt to different circumstances: It can be read as a modest setup of individual houses and at the same time as an impressive and overwhelming architectonic complex with infinite possibilities for use.
For example, the hunting ranch can be a cosy family home with a high level of privacy, a stylish boutique hotel with easy access to common activities, an event location or tranquil forest retreat.
Both the exterior and interior is made of primary, natural materials: heavy natural stone plates and blocks with split or brushed surfaces, solid larch and oak wood is combined with bronze and copper details like rain gutters, door handles and sanitary equipment.
Swiss Interior designer Ruth Kramer oversaw the interior design, which features a mix of modern and vintage design furniture in rich natural materials, like leather, fur, timber and bronze.
The Hunting Ranch backs onto a dense forest of pine, oak, beech and hornbeam trees and overlooks a low-lying open meadow and lake. The excavated soil from construction is reused to the sculpting of a manmade lake.
A dyke allows the lake’s waterline to be level with the garden. The lake and houses snake around the existing trees, to ensure these remain intact. Source by SeARCH.
Location: Carpathians, Slovakia
Architect: SeARCH
Interior design: SeARCH with Ruth Kramer
Area: 3000 m2
Year: 2021
Photographs: Ossip van Duivenbode, Courtesy of SeARCH
