Architects from the Warsaw-based YUMI studio - Dorota Wilczynska and Marta Szadokierska - on a picturesque, though difficult in terms of design, because long and narrow plot of land in one of Lublin's villages, designed a single-family house drawing on archetypal form. Inscribed in the context, the block opens up to the surrounding nature thanks to large glazing on the south side. Dorota Wilczynska of YUMI Architects talks about the design of the house in Stara Pravda, sunk in the forest.
Ola Kloc: What was the priority for the investors?
Dorota Wilczynska: The priority for the investors was to create an architecture that fits into the specific character of the plot. The land on which the house was designed is very long and narrow which determined the body of the building. The southern part of the plot is heavily wooded and the main goal of the investor was to open the space of the house in this direction. Thanks to the designed glazing on three sides of the facade, the boundary between inside and outside is blurred.
Ola: The body refers to the form of a traditional house with a slight shift between the upper and lower floors, what is the reason for such a solution?
Dorota: The idea of the project was to transform the archetypal form of the house. We were inspired by existing residential and farm buildings, which have a gabled roof and are divided into two parts: a brick first floor and a higher wooden part finished with a roof truss.
The classic block was cut in half and the upper part was elongated, creating overhangs - canopies over the entrance and terrace. Thanks to the finishing of the facade with dark material, we have the impression that the upper part of the solid is levitating.
block shaping scheme
© YUMI Architects
The form of the building was also strongly influenced by the dimensions of the plot itself, which, as I mentioned, is long and very narrow. The width of the plot naturally dictated the simple shape of the house.
No windows were designed on the north side, which gave us a strong and expressive front elevation. The house opens to the south side, where there are many tall coniferous trees. On this side, the living room has a conservatory that is glazed on three sides. Spending time in the living area, we have the impression that we are in the middle of the forest.
Another element is the wooden sliding panels, which complement the idea of rural architecture, referring to traditional shutters.
axonometrics
© YUMI Architects
Ola: You chose hand-formed brick, wood and shingles to finish the house - what influenced this choice of materials?
Dorota: Referring to the architecture of traditional residential and farm buildings, we diversified the materials of the lower and upper parts of the block. Part of the first floor was finished with hand-molded brick in shades of gray. The upper part of the block was finished with dark-toned burl wood boards.
Covered with dark shingles, the roof forms a visual whole with the upper part of the house. The materials used not only allude to the archetypal barn, but also fit perfectly into the woodland atmosphere of the plot.
collage of used materials
© YUMI Architects
Ola: What was the most difficult part of this project, and what are you most satisfied with?
Dorota: A considerable challenge for us was the shape of the plot, which very much limited our possibilities in designing the massing. It required a lot of consistency not only in creating the form of the building itself, but also in designing the functional layout of the house. The first floor was planned as an open space consisting of a kitchen, dining room and a glazed living room. The attic is the private zone of the householders, where bedrooms and a study are located. These zones have been connected to each other by a two-story opening ending with a skylight in the roof that illuminates the attic space and the dining room.
first floor plan
© YUMI Architects
The apparent difficulties associated with the form of the plot actually helped us to design a simple and clear architecture, which can also be seen in the shaping of the house's interior.
The biggest achievement for us in this project was the transformation of constraints into an advantage and added value to the architectural object.
Ola: Thank you for the interview.
