This secluded house harmoniously integrates with its natural surroundings, isolated from other structures and far from the road. The challenging landscape inspired architect Przemek Olczyk to utilize transparent and minimalist construction techniques, effectively embedding the building within the natural contours of the site.
The house occupies only a small portion of the land, which features natural folds that serve as the inspiration for its design. A 90-centimeter reinforced concrete slab is suspended above the sloping terrain, extending the upper facade and creating a distinctive angled line. This unique architectural feature lends the building its name and character (BIM work).
The concrete slab, supported by a column grid, defines clear zones within the house, separating the living area on the ground floor from the bedrooms above. The horizontal layout is striking, with green lines on the roof shifting relative to the ground floor, resembling a natural horizontal fissure that opens toward the lake’s surface.
The design thoughtfully adapts to the terrain’s structure, ensuring that the 500-square-meter home does not dominate the landscape. The prominent external staircase, more typical of a public building than a private residence, adds an intriguing architectural detail.
Due to strong winds common in the Warmian Lake region, the house features an atrium layout. The glass curtain walls offer transparent protection while preserving important sightlines to the landscape.
The internal atrium enhances privacy, with large curtains that can be drawn to open or close the courtyard as needed. Glass walls at the ground floor’s corners create an open-plan space facing southwest, ensuring ample natural light throughout the BIM-designed home.
The core philosophy of this project, and the guiding principle of Mobius Architects, is to embrace architecture from the inside out. Architect Przemek Olczyk emphasizes the goal of giving clients the best of both worlds — a home that is both artistically meaningful and adds value to its environment.
The reversed “L”-shaped architectural layout recalls the traditional farmstead arrangements typical of the Warmian Masurian Voivodeship. The exterior features predominantly glass walls, complemented by aluminum panels and ceramic elements.
Wooden details on the gable walls echo the region’s Warmian Masurian cottages, which often showcase decorative wooden boards arranged in distinctive patterns. The simplified 45-degree sloped roof also nods to the area’s rural architectural heritage.
A vertical skylight asymmetrically splits the roof slope, connecting the private interior spaces with the surrounding environment. Most of the roof is covered with grass, while concrete slabs are used on one side of the open atrium, highlighting the building’s modern aesthetic.
Project Drawings
▲ Hand-drawn sketch
▲ Conceptual diagram
▲ Site plan
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ Roof plan
▲ Sectional view
▲ Analysis chart
▲ Analysis Figure 1
▲ Analysis Figure 2
▲ Analysis Figure 3
▲ Analysis Figure 4
Project Information
Architectural Firm: Mobius Architects
Location: Poland
Category: Sustainable Development
Lead Architect: Przemek Olczyk
Building Area: 580 square meters
Year of Completion: 2019
Photographer: Paweł Ulatowski
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