House with atrium in Gliwice project INOSTUDIO

House with atrium is a project of a single-family house maintained in a minimalist, expressive style. The lump and shape of the building result from an analysis of the surroundings and the desire to provide residents with a sense of intimacy and separation from neighboring buildings.

House with atrium in Gliwice designed by INOSTUDIO architekci

Photo: Marcin Grabowiecki © INOSTUDIO

To achieve this effect, INOSTUDIO architects used a play of emptiness and fullness. From a cuboid covered with a sloping roof, they cut out a fragment in the shape of a spatial arrow, which gave them an atrium that illuminates the interior.

House with an atrium in Gliwice designed by INOSTUDIO architects - landscaping

Two cuboidal forms were cut into the sides, and in the openings thus obtained were placed the garage entrance on one side, and large glazing on the other. These architectural solutions made it possible to open the perspective to the surrounding forest and saturate the building with reflected light while depriving the facade of windows.

House with atrium in Gliwice project by INOSTUDIO architects

photo: Marcin Grabowiecki © INOSTUDIO

The plot is located in close proximity to the forest, but at the same time among dense single-family housing. The location among the surrounding single-family housing and the view of the forest determined the direction of the building's design. The architects decided to design a sprawling building with a total area of 280 square meters. The house on the first floor cuts itself off from its neighbors through the lack of windows in the side walls, its interior is illuminated by an interior atrium.

House with atrium in Gliwice project by INOSTUDIO architects

photo: Marcin Grabowiecki © INOSTUDIO

The house opens toward the garden and the atrium. On the first floor, by carving out a piece of the roof and creating two terraces, there is a view of the forest and the Gliwice radio station. The geometry of the roof was imposed by the provisions of the local plan, only houses topped with a two- or hipped roof, symmetrical, perpendicular or parallel to the road can be built in this location.

Interior of the house with atrium

photo: Marcin Grabowiecki © INOSTUDIO; interior design: AJOT design studio

The building has a compact and simple body, a dark exterior and cutouts in white. It creates an impression of inaccessibility due to the small amount of glazing on the first floor and the lack of roof windows. The interior is varied in height and openness to other spaces. The dynamic massing creates a composition of opening and aperture depending on the function of the room. There is a lot of light in the building, but it is not overexposed, as the interior is illuminated by reflected daylight coming in through the atrium.

Interior of the house with atrium

photo: Marcin Grabowiecki © INOSTUDIO; interior design: AJOT design studio

The atrium and first-floor terraces were designed as intimate outdoor spaces inside the building. The atrium provides an opportunity for continuous contact with nature and with changing weather conditions, thanks to it nature has been brought inside. By illuminating the building through the atrium and a cutout in the roof, an unusual space and an interesting play of natural light were obtained without the need for additional windows in the side walls, and roof windows.

Interior of the house with atrium

The terraces on the first floor are partially sheltered by the roof, so that the neighbors do not see them, and there is a view of the surroundings in front of the householders. The terraces can be accessed directly from each of the two bedrooms located on the second floor. The interior of the building, like the exterior, is kept in a minimalist style.

House with atrium in Gliwice designed by INOSTUDIO architects - interior design: AJOT design studio

The composition of the rooms and their arrangement refers to the atrium. The building uses minimalist detailing: gutters were hidden, eaves and chimneys were removed. The architects designed a simple roof shape, with no additional bay windows or flare of the body, and there are no skylights. All these measures help make the building energy efficient.