Taking advantage of the unusual tectonics of the plot, architects from NOWW Studio and Wojtys Wójtowicz Architects designed a villa in Krakow's Wola Justowska. The concrete first floor of the building is a contrast to the second floor, which, through the use of reflective glass and wooden razor blades on the facade, adds lightness to the whole building.
The object, as intended by the architects, was to fit into the surroundings in a non-invasive but firm way and to take advantage of the unusual tectonics of the plot located in Wola Justowska in Cracow. The firmly founded first floor, was covered with finishing concrete with plank formwork in a vertical arrangement. The second floor is a cube offset from the first floor plan, which allowed the authors to achieve a light form of the block and create terraces. The upper level is an openwork facade that is lost in the treetops. Reflective glass reflects the surroundings.
The technical zone has been entirely dug into the ground, so that cumbersome and unrepresentative functions, such as the garage, blend into the slope and do not dominate the form.
One of the investor's requirements was for the house to fit in with its surroundings
© NOWW Studio, Wojtys Wójtowicz Architects
In the words of the architects:
Our message is to design friendly architecture that shows the quality and naturalness of the materials used at any distance and perspective.
Dobrawa Bies: What was the main inspiration for this project, what is the shape of the massing derived from?
Wojciech Nowak: We had at our disposal an exceptionally beautiful plot of land at the junction of the Wolski Forest and construction areas. The characteristic element of the site was a very high and steep slope, which elevated the plot 4 to 5 meters above the road line. We decided to design the building in such a way that, despite the dynamic confluence, it would blend in with the surroundings. The form visually closes the high slope on the north side, and on the south side of the garden, it creates a pleasant corner that softly encloses the garden. In contrast to the strong and dynamic first floor, we juxtaposed an openwork and light form referring to the dense stand of trees within the plot. The first-floor development covered with reflective glass and wooden louvers coherently interacts with the lush greenery at treetop level.
The project takes advantage of the unusual tectonics of the plot
© NOWW Studio, Wojtys Wójtowicz Architects
Dobrawa Bies: What was your priority for this project?
Wojciech Nowak: Wewanted to design an expressive form, but at the same time non-aggressive in relation to the context. We broke the strong first floor with an openwork floor. Important in the design was the use of colors, materials, textures and textures taken from nature. The terraced form helps to arrange the function in an attractive way. We were able to design the function so that many rooms have direct access to the terrace or garden. We also wanted to achieve the impression that the residents feel as if they are in a tree house. The first-floor level with bedrooms and a relaxation area gives just that feeling. The first floor is a balance between interior intimacy and opening to the garden.
The technical zone has been completely dug into the ground
© NOWW Studio, Wojtys Wójtowicz Architects
Dobrawa Bies: What were the investor's expectations and needs?
Wojciech Nowak: The investor wanted a luxury house with a large footprint, but cleverly integrated into the surroundings. Due to the very high elevation between the entrance and the garden, we designed basements under the whole house. This made it possible to make a large garage that interferes with the massing in a minimally invasive way. The garage is practically just a gate in the slope of the slope. Another aspect was to combine intimacy and privacy with opening up the interior to the beautiful view spreading from the windows.
Dobrawa Bies: What gave you the most satisfaction in creating this project, and what was the biggest challenge?
Wojciech Nowak: The biggest challenge was the difficult terrain and the high elevations and slopes. The vision quickly clarified. Designing was rewarding, and solutions came to mind on their own. The real pleasure was revealed in the selection of facade materials, which gave the building a character that correlated with the surrounding greenery.
