KONTIO timber homes in Tatranská Lomnica

A retreat for golf lovers

Two traditional-style timber buildings at the foot of the High Tatras

Young entrepreneur Štefan is an avid sportsman and a regular at the golf course in Tatranská Lomnica, Slovakia. Golf has a long tradition in this area. The first round of golf under the Tatras was played in 1906, when Tatranská Lomnica was a popular weekend spot for the upper-Hungarian nobility. A proper nine-hole course was built on the Golfky meadow in Tatranská Lomnica between 1908 and 1909. In the new millennium the course was expanded and became the largest dedicated golf venue in Slovakia. Štefan fell under the spell of this place, which he loved visiting for sport and relaxation, and decided to build his second, country home right within the golf course grounds. He took the opportunity to buy a plot directly on the course, and then turned his thoughts to planning his country retreat.

The young entrepreneur loves the classics, tradition, and Slovak folk culture too, and his wish was that the buildings he was about to put up beneath the Tatra mountains would reflect that traditional, folk spirit. 'What could suit the local landscape better than a traditional drevenica,' the enterprising young man thought to himself, and set about researching the market. In Slovakia, timber and log-home building has a somewhat longer tradition than in the Czech Republic, so Štefan personally visited a number of companies building timber homes. In the end, the winner of his private tender wasn't a local firm, but the Finnish company KONTIO, which has representation in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Štefan adds about his decision: 'I had the chance to see plenty of timber homes from local manufacturers, and although I'm something of a patriot, in the end I chose KONTIO, who won me over with the best possible craftsmanship and quality in their homes. The difference in quality really is considerable.'

The young entrepreneur decided to combine his building plans with a business idea too. The plot he bought for the project was generously sized, large enough to comfortably fit two traditional timber homes, so after some thought he decided to put up two buildings on it — one for himself, and the other to offer for rent to other lovers of golf and the Tatra countryside. Štefan had a clear idea of how the houses should look and be laid out — as already mentioned, he holds to tradition and wanted his homes to fit the landscape, and the result is two charming houses built from glue-laminated beams, finished with a honey-coloured stain.

Both two-storey houses have the character of a traditional Slovak drevenica, yet they offer all the comfort and benefits of modern living. On the ground floor of each house is a living room combined with the kitchen. This lower living space has dark oak flooring, and earthy, natural colours and materials dominate the rest of its furnishings too. An elegant black wood-burning stove adds a great deal to the warm, cosy atmosphere, and also helps heat the upper part of the house.

A sturdy angled staircase leads up to the first floor, where the private areas of the house are located — the bedrooms and bathrooms. Residents can enjoy a beautiful terrace with a view of the surrounding mountain scenery. Since the terrace is fitted with an outdoor fireplace, the proud owner and his guests can enjoy not just the views of the natural beauty around them, but also the pleasure of cooking and good food.

Štefan is full of praise for the collaboration with KONTIO. 'When discussing the construction and look of our log homes, I really valued the professional approach of the building specialists. I'm very proud of the homes that came about thanks to my efforts, because they're beautiful, they fit the local mountains, and they carry on the tradition of classic building in the Slovak countryside.'

You can see all the photos of the Tatranská Lomnica houses in the gallery below.