On the border of Beskid Żywiecki and Beskid Makowski, on a plot of land surrounded by mountains in Zawoja, three summer houses by UAG Underground Architects Group are under construction. The minimalist buildings, thanks to large glazing, open up to the Babia Góra landscape from the south, blurring the boundaries between the interior and the surrounding nature.
The lump of the houses refers to a mountain hut
© UAG Underground Architects Group
The c ottages were designed on a rectangular plan, the longer side of which is located perpendicular to the sloping terrain. The buildings vary in size and allow stays for couples, families with children, as well as large groups of friends. The large slope of the plot became the main guideline for the planned buildings and their exact location. The architects created such a land use design to open up the view of the Beskid panorama from the east, as well as the Babia Góra National Park and Babia Góra itself from the south.
The blocks of houses have been integrated with the natural topography of the plot. Their minimalist and soaring form blends in perfectly with the surrounding landscape, while the architecture and details make a casual reference to a mountain cottage. Meanwhile, the materials used on the facade in the form of wood, stone, glass and sheet metal create a harmonious combination of structures and textures. - say the authors.
The buildings were designed on a rectangular plan, the longer side of which is located perpendicular to the sloping terrain
© UAG Underground Architects Group
The architects used two building width modules: 5.30 meters for House A and the outbuilding, and 7.40 meters (House B, House C). All houses are two-story and consist of a first floor which is the living area and a floor in the form of a mezzanine intended for the night zone. Each building has a large, two-story living room, located at the rear. The full-wall windows in it provide an extraordinary panoramic view of the mountains and direct contact with nature. Two terraces, accessible from the living area, have been designed in all the houses - a covered one on the east side and an open one on the south and west sides. Thanks to the considerable slope of the land under the terraces, the architects have planned space for a spa area with a Jacuzzi or a Russian banya.
All cottages are two-story, and the largest of them has an area of 91.3 m ²
© UAG Underground Architects Group
Dobrawa Bies: What were the assumptions and design inspirations?
UAG Underground Architects Group: The client wanted to create an original place for rent for tourists. Warm, modern, open to the beautiful mountain views. Not without significance is the fact that the investor is a mountain biking enthusiast. With bicycle tourism developing rapidly in the area, there was a great opportunity to realize his idea and create a base for people sharing a similar interest.
Dobrawa Bies: Did the mountain climate influence the design decisions and materials used?
UAG: Yes. By using large glazing, we wanted to open up to the mountains and greenery. The use of wood on the facade and the soaring gabled roof with a visible truss were meant to refer to a traditional mountain cottage.
The cottages can be a base for mountain biking enthusiasts
© UAG Underground Architects Group
Dobrawa Bies: What did the investors expect? How did the cooperation go?
UAG: The investors expected the creation of a complex of buildings that, through their diversification while maintaining a consistent form, will allow them to be used by different groups of people. In addition, they required a fresh and modern approach to the subject. Throughout the process, they gave us a free hand to await the result, showing 100% trust in the architect, which makes us very happy.
Dobrawa Bies: What do you think the barn house phenomenon is based on?
UAG: The fashion for the barn house has (fortunately) broken the golden era of the "house from the catalog with columns". It is something modern, spacious, minimalist, at the same time we associate it with traditional construction. I guess this combination is actually unusual. What also turns out to be phenomenal is the timelessness of the form, which for hundreds of years keeps coming back, inspiring and delighting.
Dobrawa Bies: Thank you for the interview.
