Recently opening its doors to the public, Hytta is a unique retreat in the heart of The Czech Republic which is designed to offer creatives a place to focus without distraction.
After spending time in a remote cabin in Norway and finding it beneficial in enhancing inspiration and creativity, architect Adam Hofman and product manager Dominik Ilichman decided to embark on a mission to recreate a similar unique experience in their homeland, The Czech Republic. Upon realising the impact such an escape can have in allowing creatives and entrepreneurs to find focus away from the distraction of the connected world we live in, sourcing the right location which could facilitate this was key. Now, after years of bringing the idea to fruition which involved a year-long search for the location itself, Hytta (which translates in Norwegian to ‘the cabin’) opened its doors in September.
Situated on a south-facing slope at the edge of a pine forest, ten minutes’ drive from the city of Zlin and with good access to water and electricity, the minimal, contemporary cabin is set amongst nature, allowing visitors to reconnect with themselves while simultaneously gaining renewed focus on their creative ideas and projects. Constructed as a place for dreamers, the duo’s mission is to encourage visitors away from the distractions of modern life and the pitfalls of social media which can often deter you from your own personal goals. In designing a space which, as they state would encourage such concentration and high-quality rest, minimalism was key alongside the implementation of advanced technology and natural materials.
Stepping inside, a dynamic hybrid working and living space invites you in. Centred around a large oak dining table, with open storage running along the wall, the beauty of the spruce cladding and floorboards act as a backdrop to the Scandi-inspired interior. Contrasting the pale timber, an elegant black open-plan kitchen creates a striking monochromatic statement. A sleek metal staircase ascends from the kitchen to the east-facing main bedroom, positioned to make the most of the morning’s natural light as you wake up to the forest views through a large window. Two smaller nooks provide additional sleeping areas within the cabin, which houses six people when fully occupied, alongside a central bathroom which has been finished in a charcoal-coloured cement screed.
While most retreats of a similar nature are designed without work in mind and take you completely off-grid, this unique concept is one which offers something individual for digital nomads and entrepreneurs. The large oak table becomes a central working area, with lots of natural light and a high gable roof augmenting the freedom and openness found within the space. With a computer monitor included, the cabin is also fitted with a Starlink internet service and biodynamic lighting which doesn’t emit blue light after the sun goes down – a fundamental step towards healthier sleep patterns and again, allowing you to experience the ultimate rest possible.
To further its impact on your wellbeing, Hytta also includes a Finnish sauna and cold immersion tub. With the Scandinavian ritual conducive to a healthier lifestyle and clearer mind, the concept lends itself to finding the benefits of such routines and allowing space to reconnect with your body and mind. The materiality within the construction of the cabin is also key to its success. The larch wood façade, aluminium windows and doors, spruce-lined interiors, and the charred timber cladding of the sauna, all add to its organic charm and natural beauty. In aligning the space with its setting, it showcases the sensitivity which has underpinned the cabin’s conception.
While the making of Hytta is immensely personal to its creators, they hope in sharing it with the world others can experience distinct moments of reflection too. “How you use it is up to you,” the duo state online. “Our dream is to give creative people the space to fully utilise their potential.” And, in a world where moments of disconnection and solitary peace can be hard to find, it brings a new accessibility to venues which allow you to explore personal growth and contemplation. The dreamer within me is already excited, especially as we consider what the next year holds and the goals and targets we would like to put in place. Could this be the place to set them?
Images courtesy of Hytta, Julius Filip and Studio Flusser.
