The most important thing in this project was to preserve the character of the plot with its unique forest surroundings. The house designed by Exterio was to blend in with the wooded character of the site.
The house among the trees designed by Exterio studio was created for investors whose priority was to preserve the unique character of the place. The house was composed of two blocks, which are responsible for dividing the interior into a living zone and a rest zone. The architects decided to use a brick facade to correspond not only to the forest surroundings, but also to the glazing used in both parts of the house.
The architects wanted the form of the building and the facade materials to blend in with the forest surroundings as much as possible
Photo: Yassen Hristov | © Exterio
Marcin Klukowski of the Exterio studio talks about the solutions used in this project, the combination of solids and the layout of the house
Wiktor Bochenek: Was the house among the trees meant to stand out more, or to fit in with the forest surroundings?
Marcin Klukowski: It is difficult to completely hide a building of this scale among the trees. However, we wanted the form of the building and the facade materials to blend in with the forest surroundings as much as possible. The form of a traditional house with a gabled roof refers to rural or forest architecture. It is also most practical with the surrounding trees, from which needles and leaves are constantly falling.
The blocks are connected by a glazed connector, which is also the functional keystone of the building
Photo: Yassen Hristov | © Exterio
Wiktor: The building consists of two solids - how were they connected?
Marcin: The blocks were connected by a glazed connector, which is also the functional keystone of the building. It contains the main entrance to the building, the entrance hall and the stairs to the first floor.
Wiktor: How was the layout of the house designed?
Marcin: The layout of the house is directly reflected in the form of two blocks. The main entrance and communication are located in the middle, in the connector between the blocks. The lower block houses the living area with a high living room, dining room and kitchen. In the second, two-story block we placed a garage on the first floor, as well as technical rooms and a study/guest room, and in the attic we placed three bedrooms for all family members, along with dressing rooms and bathrooms.
Wiktor: Why did you decide on such an elevation solution?
Marcin: The brick facade was to be as natural as possible, to be associated with nature and materials of natural origin. It was also important that the facade be as maintenance-free as possible, which is very important in a forest environment. That it would not get visibly dirty and that it would be easy to clean and resistant to moisture.
The house was composed of two blocks, which are responsible for dividing the interior into a living zone and a rest zone
Photo: Yassen Hristov | © Exterio
Wiktor: What is worth paying attention to in this project?
Marcin: I think it is worth noting the clear layout of the house, which coherently combines comfortable function with a relatively intimate form of the building. We also wanted to achieve a balance between modernity and a warm rural atmosphere.
The form of the building was to refer to the rustic character of Mazovia
Photo: Yassen Hristov | © Exterio
Wiktor: What was the biggest problem in this project, and what gave you the most satisfaction?
Marcin: What gave us the most satisfaction was that the investor was aware of the solutions chosen and the quality of the materials selected, and realized the building one hundred percent according to the design assumptions. We didn't have any major problems in the design and implementation.
Wiktor: Thank you for the conversation.
The house is located near Warsaw
Photo: Yassen Hristov | © Exterio
