In the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in the small village of Lekarty, architects from A8 Architektura designed a distinctive single-family house. Its dynamic body is formed by three separate segments, covered by an accordion roof made of wooden shingles. Residents, thanks to extensive glazing, can enjoy unobstructed views of the private pier, lake and forest, whether they are in the dining room or the upstairs living room.
The house in Lekarty was situated on a hill, on a plot surrounded by forest and with direct access to the lake. The architects adjusted it to the slope of the land, so that, as they say, during the day, covered with wooden shingles, it blends in with the surroundings, and at night (from the lake) it lights up the area like a beacon.
The house in Lekarty, in spring, view from the side of the lake
Photo: Arkadiusz Nojek © A8 Architektura
The house was designed as a single-family house with two overground floors, the second of which is a usable attic. The entrance to the building is located on the side of the communal road - through a vast entrance hall, one passes to all other rooms. Entrance to the roof, was planned from the terrace, using steps and a ladder.
House in Lekarty, ground and first floor plan
© A8 Architecture
Functionally, the building is divided into four parts: the living area (kitchen with dining room, living room, entrance area with dressing room and guest bathroom), which occupies most of the first floor, as well as a mezzanine with living room and terrace, providing a view of the lake. The technical area, along with the utility rooms and garage, is located on the first floor, while the private area with a bedroom, dressing room and bathroom, as well as the guest area , is located in the attic.
The design of this house was created for a long [...]. It was to be a house that fulfills the dream of living in nature and overlooking nature. A house that does not repeat fashionable ideas, but clearly realizes the ideas of uncompromising individualism [...]. The result is a house that more than 100% meets our expectations [...]. - recounts the developer.
The house in Lekarty consists of three blocks covered with a gabled roof
Photo: Arkadiusz Nojek © A8 Architektura
interview with Piotr Lewandowski
Dobrawa Bies: The single-family house in Lekarty that you designed has a rather unusual form. Its body is divided into three, connected together, modern barn-like segments, spread out like an open fan. Where did the idea for such a form come from?
Piotr Lewandowski: Actually, the search for a lump that fit the place took a while. First we determined the directions to which we wanted to open the house, related to the sides of the world and the most attractive views. We matched this to the function and thus a fan-shaped layout was created. By covering each part with a separate roof, the architecture is fragmented, blends in more with the landscape and gives a unique view effect.
The view from the mezzanine living room overlooking the lake
Photo: Arkadiusz Nojek © A8 Architektura
Dobrawa: What requirements did the investors approach you with? Were you given a free hand?
Piotr Lewandowski: The clients are wonderful people, they gave us specific functional guidelines as to function, but a free hand in terms of appearance. As a result, we were able to design a unique facility to fit the site.
Larch shingles also cover part of the facade
Photo: Arkadiusz Nojek © A8 Architektura
Dobrawa: The building, as we have already mentioned, consists of three blocks, which were covered with an accordion roof made of wooden shingles. Please tell us about the materials used.
Piotr Lewandowski: Initially we also considered slate for the roof, but we chose larch shingles, which is a natural material, ecological and historically found in the Warmian-Masurian province. The challenge was to find a material at a reasonable price, a good contractor, and to choose the details. Many solutions are traditional such as the copper sheet baskets sealing the slope connection. Others, meanwhile, are very modern, including the placement of shingles on the swinging garage door.
Interior of the spacious lobby and living area
Photo: Arkadiusz Nojek © A8 Architektura
Dobrawa: On the lake side, the house is completely glazed. This provides a beautiful view, but how did you solve safety issues for the surrounding nature, especially birds?
Piotr Lewandowski: In practice, it turns out that the most dangerous for birds are large glazings - those that create the illusion that a bird can fly further, to the other side. Such a problem arises with freestanding railings or deep and shaded glazing. As long as our facade is well lit, bird silhouettes, whether in the form of sculpture or stickers, had to appear on the railings to prevent such accidents.
The biggest design challenge was the windows
Photo: Arkadiusz Nojek © A8 Architektura
Dobrawa: The biggest challenge, and the biggest reason to be proud is?
Piotr Lewandowski: This construction was an adventure, the building required many hours of supervision. The biggest challenge, but also the final joy, were the windows. Each was an unusual shape, and the mullions and transoms had to be attached to the slanting rafters at the top of the roof. Each window was a separate problem and a separate solution on the site. Satisfaction was great when the windows were fixed.
Dobrawa: Thank you for the interview.
