Hanna Seredyńska and Magdalena Strauchmann, students at the Wrocław University of Technology under the guidance of Dr. Jerzy Łątka, created a project for a single-family house in Sobótka. Their premise was based on the idea of a core house - an expanding house. We present the design of the modular house ALTHOUSE.
Core hosue is the idea of a sprawling house, where we keep the minimum living space, and the future form of the building depends on its users and their needs. The basis for the construction of such a house is usually a base module, to which additional rooms are added, enlarging the space of the entire building.
ALTHOUSE in Sobotka
© Hanna Seredyńska, Magdalena Strauchmann
modular house
The authors divided the construction of the house into five phases, depending on the moment of life of the resident and the number of family members. The starting module is designed for those interested in buying their first home. It is compact and meets all the basic needs of a young person. As the family grows, more elements are added, such as a garage or gazebos and small architecture in the garden.
The entire development does not impose a specific use of space, we want everyone to be able to adapt it to their current needs. The house is also adapted for the elderly. In the final phase, the bedroom is being moved to the first floor to facilitate daily functioning, the authors add.
As the family grows, more sections of the house are added
© Hanna Seredyńska, Magdalena Strauchmann
simplicity, minimalism and nature
When working on the project, the students focused on simplicity, minimalism and the connection between man and nature, and for this reason they relied on intensive greening of the area. Their project involved not only a single-family house, but also the development of the entire plot and the creation of an estate. The development area is located in Sobótka, near a landscape park, surrounded by beautiful nature.
We wanted the settlement of single-family houses to be a continuation of the existing landscape and not to destroy the harmony of nature. In the estate we designed, we planned a common space connecting all residents in the form of a park, a network of paths interspersed with a stream of water. Among the greenery, on each plot there are elements of small architecture and gazebos that organize the garden space - they are a coherent part with the building itself. There is a pergola, a playground in the form of universal platforms and a workshop, a studio, Hanna Seredyńska and Magdalena Strauchmann tell us.
The house fits into the slope of the plot
© Hanna Seredyńska, Magdalena Strauchmann
The third part of the sprawl is a larger house, designed for a family. The designed building fits into the slope of the plot, sinking into the terrain. The difference in levels promotes privacy and opens up to the surrounding landscape. On the first floor, the architects planned a common and living space, and on the first floor a private area. The staircase in the living area can be used as a seat, allowing the space to be enlarged. There are two entrances to the house - one from the street and the other from the garden. The additional entrance facilitates communication with the garden and garage. Next to the main vestibule there is a bathroom, and further on there is an open living area and a terrace. A passage of communication leads to the second entrance, ending with a vestibule and a kitchen. On the first floor, the corridor space includes a work area, and further on there is a bathroom, children's rooms and the parents' bedroom.
Pastel colors and natural materials
The architects were keen to create a pleasant to look at space, so they decided on pastel colors. Olive-colored kitchen, yellow sofa and dirty pink armchairs. On the floor, they used herringbone-laid wood panels, concrete tiles in the utility and circulation areas, and tile in the bathroom and kitchen.
The house's facade was designed with three materials - wood, seamed metal panels and white plaster. The eastern and western parts are cut by a strip of wood to break up the mass and create cohesion with the wooden gazebos. The design combines traditional forms with modern technologies. The authors introduced wooden shutters to obscure large glazings, limiting the amount of light and heat. The house is built of lightweight frame construction, which significantly reduces costs and facilitates installation. For aesthetic reasons, we decided to introduce a gutter hidden in the roof and to emphasize the modernity of the block.
