Architects from the KONTEKSTY studio in Cracow designed a house for a multi-generational family. Situated in a village near Tarnow, the building is a combination of austere mass with classic colors of timeless design. Karolina Krzysiak tells Karolina Krzysiak about the inspiration and work on the project for three generations.
When designing the house in Pleśna, Konrad Jurek and Karolina Krzysiak took advantage of the slope of the plot, which allowed them to expose the view of the surrounding nature. The simple white block of the building on the street side has a compact façade, which provides homebuyers with a sense of security. From the garden, the building opens to the south, providing views of the forest and surrounding hills. The interiors are filled with organic shapes, whites, browns and light streaming in through numerous windows. As the architects say, the space of the house is a backdrop for the memories of the multi-generational family living there.
The first floor is the common space of the householders
© KONTEKSTY studio
Dobrawa Bies: What was the main inspiration for the project, what is the shape of the body of the house derived from?
Karolina Krzysiak: The streamlined form of the house we designed is mainly due to the location of the plot, which was also the main inspiration for the project. The green hill, the considerable distance from the city and, above all, the view stretching from the south, made us decide on an austere, geometric body, providing a contrast to the organic surroundings. By getting rid of unnecessary decorations, colors and details, we tried to create a house that does not compete with the landscape, but on the contrary, emphasizes its charm, harmoniously combining nature with the product of man's hand and imagination. In this regard, a very important challenge for us was to study the appropriate proportions and shape of the block, taking into account the provisions of the local plan and the neighborhood, in such a way that the new form is friendly to the residents and the environment.
The house is inscribed into the slope of the plot
© KONTEKSTY Studio
Dobrawa Bies: What was your priority in this project?
Karolina Krzysiak: As in any project, the priority for us was to design a friendly space for human living. The house is supposed to be a background for the daily life going on in it and function and look in such a way as to make the residents' lives more pleasant. In this case, the aspect of combining: firstly, three generations in one building, and secondly, man with nature, which surrounds the block, was particularly important.
The surfaces of the rooms were adjusted to the requirements of their owners
© KONTEKSTY Studio
Dobrawa Bies: What were the biggest design difficulties, and what are you most satisfied with?
Karolina Krzysiak: The biggest challenge was certainly to create a functional layout and interior and volume design that would meet the requirements of three generations of residents. We wanted to respectfully approach the expectations of each of the future homeowners. Each of the bedrooms is therefore located in the night area (at level -1) with a view of the forest and an exit to the garden. The areas of the rooms were matched exactly to the requirements of their owners. In addition, we focused on timeless design in the common areas and inviting gathering places (a large dining table in the dining room, comfortable sofas in the living room, a lounge area on the terrace). In addition, the high-end finishing materials used in the project, such as wood, stone, and steel, will become more noble with age and preserve memories. It is this intergenerational combinationachieved in the project that we are most pleased with, as well as how the proportions of the block complement the surrounding landscape.
