1. Houses in Rybnik
A set of three houses designed by Marcin Jojko and Bartłomiej Nawrocki, two of which were selected for the exhibition. The architects wanted a design closely harmonized with the environment. They have taken into account lighting, proximity to the forest, the location of the road and the view of the landscape from the driveway. Their most noticeable features are the sloping green roofs, which give the impression that the houses sprout out of the ground.
2. Chotomów
A creation of Dariusz Hyc, Henryk Łaguna and Edyta Waleczek of the Warsaw studio MAAS. The house is half bungalow, half apartment building. It was customized so that the part of the roof that is higher than the other would seamlessly merge into the rest of the construction. Thus the three-part house retains a shape that is both unique and functional.
3. Koszalin
The H9 house was designed by Dariusz Herman and Piotr Śmierzewski of the Design Agency HS99. From the outside, the building appears modest - the simple, minimalist block seems to have no entrance or porch. However, the space within is arranged to create a warm and inviting environment that offers both openness and intimacy.
4. Nadarzyn: Dogma House
Designed by Grzegorz Stiasny, the Dogma house in Nadarzyn features functionality that is threefold: it can comfortably hold a family of three, features an original driveway and possesses a separate apartment with its own bathroom. The three units are built on Y-shaped blocks. Although each of the three wings has a different shape, the house is coherent and visually appealing as a whole.
5. Józefów: Forest House
Designed by Emiko Hayakawy and Aureliusz Kowalczyk, who usually work in Tokyo, the house evokes Japanese minimalism. The building has an irregular shape, and its juxtaposed angles walls create a unpolished geometric shape. The artistic intention of the architects was to create a system of windows for house that has no other buildings as "frame", only surrounded by nature.
6. Meadow Near Pszczyna: Eco House
This house in Pszczyna reminds some of a tank, others of a church. Piotr Kuczia’s project is made of unpainted wood covered in moss, coupled with a simple black facade. Inside is a large open space without corridors, almost without walls, the narrow staircase connecting the two floors with the ground floor. The house does not have a chimney, and hot water comes from solar panels. Instead of tiles or parquet, the floors are made of polished concrete.
7. Brenna: Konieczny's Ark
Architect Robert Konieczny designed a house for his family and himself, hence the title. The panoramic windows provide an impressive view over the surroundings from anywhere inside the house. Its most recognizable trait is the inverted roof structure at its foundation, which by not being completely in contact with the ground, gives the impression that the home levitates over the valley.
8. Bytom: Bolko Loft
Medusa Group’s Przemo Łukasik designed this project for his own use. Set in the White Eagle mining and metallurgy complex in Bytom, it is a superb example of revitalization and adaptation of post-industrial facilities. The 200-square-metre house rises 8 meters above the ground, supported by concrete pillars. Most of the living area is an open space, divided only by glass. The Bolko Loft was nominated for the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award.
Sources: press materials, bryla.pl, gazeta.pl, edited by Jakub Nikodem, 11/07/2013
Translation: LB 12/07/2013