Consisting of two parts connected by a glass connector, the single-family house is located in a picturesque part of Gdansk. It is surrounded by the Tri-City Landscape Park on one side and a lake on the other. The architecture of the building, which refers to the Scandinavian style, is the work of Kamil Graczyk of VAME archite cts and Michal Ostafijczuk of TRINN architects.
The house consists of two parts connected by a glass connector
© VAME architects, TRINN architects
The residential building is divided into two parts, which are connected by a glass connector. The western part includes a living area with a living room and kitchen, while the eastern part is intended as a night area with bedrooms. In the connector, as the central part of the building, the architects designed a dining room. This place not only integrates the two building blocks, but also promotes the building of family relations over shared meals. On the very shore of the lake, the authors placed, an additional small building with a sauna. Full walls on the side of the neighboring house and glazing on the side of the lake guarantee the comfort of the relaxation zone.
The project also includes ecological solutions. The architects proposed solar technologies, heat pumps, as well as rainwater management for later use. In addition, the use of ecological and natural materials makes the building fit in with the surrounding landscape and the trends of sustainable architecture.
The developer placed a strong emphasis on functional division
© VAME architekci, TRINN architekci
Dobrawa Bies: What were the assumptions and design inspirations?
Kamil Graczyk: The project was inspired primarily by Scandinavian architecture. The surrounding landscape and neighboring buildings made the decision on the choice of style very easy, one could even say - imposing. The plot is surrounded by the Tri-City Landscape Park to the south, and is connected to the lake to the north. Taking advantage of such potential became the main guideline in creating the architecture and determined the most important compositional axes. The building was divided into two blocks, containing day and night zones, which were connected by a glazed connector. This procedure means that the building does not fully obscure the lake, and the dining room located in the connector unites not only the other parts of the house, but also the views of the forest and the lake.
The occupants have a view of the forest on one side and the lake on the other
© VAME architects, TRINN architects
Dobrawa: What did the investors expect? What was the design work like?
Kamil Graczyk: The client's wish was to exploit the potential of the site by creating architecture that allows contact with nature (using large glazing), while providing a sense of privacy. A strong emphasis was placed on the functional program. The house was to include a large living room, a kitchen with a dining room and pantry, a study, a built-in garage, rooms for children and guests, a bedroom with a dressing room and a separate bathroom. In addition to a clean division of the building into living and sleeping areas, the investor expected to find a relaxation zone, so in addition to the main residential building, a building with a sauna located on the side of the lake was designed. The investor's awareness of environmentally friendly solutions and a similar outlook on architecture made the cooperation very smooth and pleasant.
The western part is the living area and the eastern part is the night area
© VAME architekci, TRINN architekci
Dobrawa: What materials were used and how did their choice influence the form of the building?
Kamil Graczyk: As mentioned earlier, creating a simple, minimalist architecture was the main idea of the project. Therefore, this also influenced the choice of materials used on the facades. The design calls for white plaster, natural wood and standing seam sheet metal. The roof is devoid of slope windows so that photovoltaic systems can be installed on it. An eaveless system was also used, i.e. hidden gutters and downpipes, which further allowed for a simple and clean body. In addition, the location of the forest and the lake meant that large glazing was introduced on the gable walls of the building and in the connector. This allows the boundaries between inside and outside to blur, making the building blend more harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. The use of ecological and natural materials makes the building fit accurately into the trends of sustainable architecture.
A sauna is located in a separate building
© VAME architects, TRINN architects
Dobrawa: What do you think the phenomenon of the barn house is based on?
Kamil Graczyk: The current trend in architecture for barn houses is due to a number of factors. More and more people are close to the Scandinavian style, both in interiors and in architecture. It has become popular to combine stone, concrete or white broken by the warmth of natural wood. Such simple and minimalist shapes can be found precisely in the shape of a barn. Rectangular plan, gabled, symmetrical roofs, usually made in eaveless systems, give the buildings a purist form. Such elevations are also easier to keep clean. In addition, the compact form allows for the leveling of heat loss from the building, and large roof slopes allow for the installation of photovoltaic systems. Gable walls are ideal for large glazing, and as is known, contact with nature has a therapeutic effect on the human body. It reduces stress, promotes relaxation and gives solace, factors that further emphasize the value of the house being a refuge for its inhabitants. The return to the traditional barn form certainly gives the architecture its timeless character.
Dobrawa: Thank you for the interview.
interviewed : Dobrawa Bies
