Our clients wanted to build their new home on the main street of Üllő, on a plot of land that had been in the family for generations. At the front of the long plot there was already a single-storey farmhouse with a cosy walnut grove behind it, perpendicular to the busy main road. Our building finally found its place in the area shared by the walnut trees and the field at the end of the garden, at the rear boundary of the property. At the moment, we can reach it by land with a handle in the usual way, but if the new road included in later town plans is built at the end of the garden, the approach to the house may be reversed – this was a crucial consideration when the building was erected and the entrance was determined. From the bedrooms to the north, the view is of a seemingly endless field, where deer and rabbits are not infrequent guests, and the south-facing sitting room opens onto the double row of walnut trees. The main road is not far away, but the peace is infinite. You might not even miss the new street.

The massing was generated by creating a reasonable and habitable minimum of space. With a compact, square floor plan divided into two parts, it was possible to accommodate all the necessary functions in 110 m2. The half-timbered roof has a low pitch and its asymmetry follows the space requirements of the rooms. The formula is completed by two transitional spaces: the shelter of the entrance and the terrace in front of the living room, and the southern shading of the façade are ensured by the incisions made in the closed mass.

To the north are the three bedrooms and the adjoining bathrooms, and to the south the kitchen – dining room – living room. We enter the house at the division between the two sections. A strip of built-in cupboards separates the living room from the private area. The wardrobe opens in one direction and then in another, incorporating the frameless doors that lead to the rooms. The children’s rooms later will have a gallery above the wardrobes.

The kitchen – living room – dining room trio forms a single space. To suit the family’s needs, the kitchen is not visible on arrival and can be separated from the living room. The utility room, which opens from the kitchen, and the guest bathroom, which opens from the hall, are hidden in a wooden box between the kitchen and the hall. The wood panelling conceals a sliding door that can be used to separate the kitchen from the lounge.

The covered terrace, which is closed on three sides, provides an ideal transition between inside and outside and opens up the entire length of the living/dining room to the walnut grove between the old and new houses. The kitchen has also been positioned so that it has a direct link to the covered terrace, reinforcing its outdoor living-dining function. A similar transitional space is the covered vestibule in front of the entrance, which radiates a sense of homeliness to visitors. Every square centimetre has a function, so the thicker part of the terrace on the side garden provides space for the mechanical room.