The Concrete is a single-family home designed byBarycz and Saramowicz Architectural Office located in Kampinos National Park. The modern forest residence on a square plan was made of as much as 600 tons of facing concrete!
The villa in the suburban town of Izabelin was commissioned by a private investor who wanted to erect a house for his large family and frequent visiting friends. The architects, looking for an idea to fit the building into the landscape - a dense pine forest, focused on such a layout of the house that concentrates on the interior. A rich functional program could have been associated with a multi-wing premise, but the authors approached the project differently. The numerous functions were enclosed in an almost square outline with hollow atrium and summer dining room spaces.
Courtyard with swimming pool on the garden side
© Barycz and Saramowicz Architectural Office
concrete in focus
Thesquare-plan house resembles a fortress. Its shape is defined by a symbolic, defensive wall of raw, faced concrete with organic boarding imprints. The concrete, using powdered ochre, was colored in the mass to the color of pine bark, thus blending in with the forest surroundings. The upper floor of the house was clad with panels of highly treated wood, emphasizing the identity of the site. By encasing the building in concrete, a uniform shell was created, which, combined with stripping it of unnecessary ornamentation, resulted in a modern body. The villa was made of 600 tons of concrete and is considered to have the largest use of exposed concrete in European residential architecture.
numerous functions were enclosed in an almost square outline
© Barycz and Saramowicz Architectural Office
house like a fortress
From the front, the small windows, enclosed garage entrances and austere appearance evoke a bunker. On the garden side, however, The Concrete reveals its intimate, welcoming face. Large windows, an atrial layout and a courtyard with a swimming pool allow one to relax surrounded by greenery. The project by Barycz and Saramowicz Architectural Office was nominated for the Archdaily Building of the Year Awards and is a Top Builder winner.
The facade was made of stained lucite concrete with an imprint of boarding
© Barycz and Saramowicz Architectural Office
Read also about other projects of the Barycz and Saramowicz Architectural Office: the Forest Villa in Izabelin and the shingle and concrete villa awarded 1st place in the residential architecture category in the 6th edition of the competition for the Stanislaw Witkiewicz Małopolski Voivodeship Award.
