House in Konstanz / BDR Architekci

Textual description provided by the architects. The house is located in Konstancin-Jeziorna, a health resort near Warsaw famous for its beautiful, green and wooded landscape. When designing the house we wanted to take advantage of the natural qualities and conditions of the plot of land, so that the design embodies the idea of ​​living close to nature. The living room, located on the first floor, opens up to the surroundings as much as possible. Through the use of full glazing and sliding windows, the common area merges with the outside, emphasizing the strong relationship between nature and the building. The surrounding covered terrace forms a screen that provides shade to the interior and expands the living space. The bedroom, children’s room, study and bathrooms are located on the first floor. All usable spaces (including bathrooms) on both floors have access to terraces and views of the surrounding nature.

The compact form of the building increases the green space on the plot. An effective plan provides as much functionality as possible taking into account the constraints imposed by lot size and legal provisions. The building is constructed in a hybrid manner: the above-ground structure is based on a steel frame complemented by glulam elements, while the basement and staircase are made of reinforced concrete. The facades consist of crushed fiber cement panels.

The interiors feature muted colors and simple shapes, drawing attention to the greenery outside. The open living room combined with the kitchen is designed in neutral colors using white and natural materials: wood and quartzite. Thus, the external panorama becomes the main and most important element that affects the interior. Furniture cladding and large format ceramic tiles in uniform pastel colors were used in the bathrooms and corridors. The building’s structural elements are visible in many places: steel beams in the living room, a wooden roof structure in the upstairs rooms, or a reinforced concrete column in the stairwell.

The building is designed to be environmentally friendly. The use of steel frame structure allowed for efficient use of building materials and a shorter construction process. Cornices and porticoes protect the interior from excessive heat in summer. Photovoltaic panels have been placed on the southern slope of the roof and the energy generated can be used to charge an electric car for example. All installations are integrated using the smart home system. The building is also equipped with a heat pump and a rainwater tank