The design of the intimate estate of single-family houses is the result of years of dialogue between developers and architects. On the one hand - the pragmatic counting of meters and zlotys, on the other - the search for the human scale of the houses. As Tomasz Wuczynski emphasizes, consensus was possible thanks to the assumption that adequate living space is the key element that builds the value of an investment.
Tomasz Wuczynski's studio, Grupa Plus Architekci, is responsible for the design of the Zendo Wilanów housing development, while Hype Development is responsible for the implementation of the project. The developer focuses on high-standard architecture and functional solutions.
Zendo Wilanów housing estate
© Grupa Plus Architekci
on a human scale
Future residents get to choose from among the available options: shape of the block, type of elevation, as well as layout of rooms and area varying from 254 to 288 m². What unites the houses are the general principles that guided the architect:
In designing the complex of eight houses - because such a number turned out to be the maximum due to the indicators set by the local zoning plan - we adopted a set of criteria that we felt were necessary for this project. These are the differentiation of individual houses, modern architecture: clean and functional, sunny plots, intimacy of the layout and the cohesive character of the entire estate.
Zendo Wilanów estate of houses
© Grupa Plus Architekci
Within the framework of the functional interior layouts, two issues were key: an open, well-lit first floor plan and an upstairs comprising three or four bedrooms, with a separate laundry room and a large dressing room. The layout of the terraces around the house was intended to allow them to be used at different times of the day and year, depending on the preferences of the householders or the temperature outside. The characteristic bipartite shape of the buildings is a well-thought-out procedure:
the masses of the buildings were mostly "broken" into two smaller objects, so we avoided the unfriendly scale of the individual houses," explains the architect.
to choose from
On a plot with a total area of 6,300 sqm stood eight residential buildings in a layout of four houses connected by garages, each of which has a separate entrance gate and driveway to the garage, a private terrace area and a common front space.
Zendo Wilanów estate of houses
© Grupa Plus Architekci
The house closest to the estate's entrance is a stately structure that greets guests with the slender silhouette of a ventilated wooden facade made of solid thermo pine wood profiles, which is durable and requires no ongoing maintenance. It features a two-story dining room and equally high glazing which, in addition to the aesthetic experience, guarantees access to plenty of natural light. The heart of the house is the centrally located kitchen with an island and a separate pantry, while on the first floor - as in all houses - there are bedrooms, including one as part of a separate master bedroom unit with its own dressing room and bathroom. The garden, as a recreation area, is complemented by a spacious terrace on the roof of the garage.
Zendo Wilanów housing estate
© Grupa Plus Architekci
Also available to investors is a building that lovers of large spaces will appreciate. The more than 50-square-meterarea of the living room is enclosed on one side by a fireplace block and, thanks to the glazing, its other limit is the terrace and the greenery of its own garden. On top of that, two of the four bedrooms on the first floor have a loggia located above the terrace.
There is also something on offer for those who particularly appreciate peace and quiet - an intimate house located on the edge of the estate. Its living room opens with a spacious window to the east, and on the south side, in the dining area, there is another wide glazing, supplementing the amount of sunlight received later than early morning. The wood-finished facade is offset by a plaster element, and the entrance to the house is located in an arcade that protects from rain and sun.
Zendo Wilanów housing estate
© Grupa Plus Architekci
in a good neighborhood
In the case of Zendo, as important as the proportions of the internal divisions or masses of the buildings are the relationships between the buildings and the surroundings. The houses have been organized around a consistent architectural concept that fits into the context of the place, which is Wilanów's Zawady. This is a place well known to Varsovians, which enjoys the reputation of a secluded, safe neighborhood, offering almost unlimited contact with nature, while providing quick access to the city center. It is in this attractive point on the map of the capital that a place has been created that is friendly not only to its residents, but also to its surroundings, thanks to a balanced aesthetic that combines a traditional understanding of home with a very contemporary character of materials and architecture. This is another argument in favor of the fact that Zendo is synonymous with the philosophy of harmonious, conscious and responsible design and construction, which puts people and their needs at the center.
elaborated. ed.
based on a press release
