Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska of the Poco Design studio designed a cottage in a picturesque rural area on the Narew River. Despite the fact that the object is small, there is everything needed for rest and recreation.
The interior of the cottage is filled with natural materials
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
Icelandic inspirations
The designer created the cottage shortly after completing the interior of the villa next door, which she also designed. Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska shaped the entire building, from the massing to the smallest details. Among other things, she proposed the layout of the openings, the type of windows, the wooden facade, the green roof covered with grass and the stone floor that circles the pool and penetrates all the rooms. Hand-slate quartzite integrates the interior and exterior. Both finding the right material and a professional to lay it were not easy tasks. The installation of the glass wall in the sauna, where the tightness of the partitions is required, also proved difficult. The result, however, was worth the effort. The solutions used were inspired by a trip to Iceland.
The floor was made of hand-slate quartzite
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
- There I watched interesting houses with a very simple form, blended into the raw nature. I also saw saunas with windows, which is not a problem in those parts, because there are no neighbors behind them. I decided to transfer these solutions along with the range of materials, textures and colors to the Narew River," recalls the architect.
Architect Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
Blurring the line between inside and outside
The 34-square-meter bungalow features a lounge area with a kitchenette and a sauna with a bathroom. Additional space was also arranged for storage of sports and recreational equipment. The layout of the woodwork was planned with the views outside the window in mind. For example, in the corner of the house on the pool side there is a sliding glazing without a pillar. This solution makes it possible to fully integrate the leisure area under the roof with the outdoor swimming pool.
The corner of the house next to the pool has been glazed
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
- The second important issue for me was the sauna window. For some reasons, the investors wanted to place it inside the body of the building. In view of this, I proposed to open the sauna to the corridor with a glass wall, and indirectly to a window overlooking the garden," says the designer.
The form of the sauna is inspired by Icelandic designs
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
Beauty of natural material
Wood plays an extremely important role in this project. We see it both inside and outside. Oak veneer covers, among other things, the furniture fittings, walls and door leaves.
- It was brushed, which highlighted its natural character, grain and texture. In turn, very gentle whitewashing toned down its shade so that it would not be too intense natak large planes in a small space," describes Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska.
Wood can also be found in the form of furniture
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
In the sauna, wood takes the form of small planks. Their scale positively affects the perception of the proportions of the room. Similar, but of a different width, we can admire on the facade. In the evenings, properly calibrated light brings out the decorative qualities of this material.
Lighting highlights the decorative facade
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
Raw stone
The bathroom stands out in color from the rest of the interior, however, stone was also used here. The walls were covered with sinters in the shade of terracotta. Their colorful background emphasizes the graphic nature of the metal furnishings. These include the sink console, the frame of the shower stall, the decorative lamps hanging by the mirror and the fixtures. The modern, minimalist forms of the bathroom faucets combine with the Scandinavian spirit of the house, at the same time they have architectural sophistication.
The walls of the bathroom are covered with sintered tiles in the shade of terracotta
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
- I played with textures here. I reached for broken stone, wood with visible grains, raw concrete. Even the sintering in the kitchen cabinets, although smooth to the touch for practical reasons, has a delicate relief and a matte surface, without gloss. In small interiors, everything is viewed up close, so even the smallest detail is important here," emphasizes Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska.
The stone floor is also located in the shower area
Styling: Patrycja Suszek-Rączkowska Photo: Yassen Hristov
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Compiled by:KATARZYNA SZOSTAK
