Jakub Ciszewski, a student at the Silesian University of Technology's Faculty of Architecture, won an honorable mention in the prestigious international architectural competition "The Home of Shadows", organized by the Buildner platform. The competition, whose jury was made up of prominent architects - including Blake T. Smith of the renowned BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group studio - presented participants with quite a challenge: to design a house using only natural light, without the possibility of using artificial lighting.
cross section
© Jakub Ciszewski
The project submitted by Jakub Ciszewski was not just a one-off concept created for the competition - it is part of his master's thesis, carried out under the guidance of Dr. Jan Kubec. The project is currently being developed and refined in preparation for his thesis defense, scheduled for May of this year.
a house without a light bulb - architecture of the senses
The competition requirements forced the participants to think deeply about the role of light in living space. The architects were to design a house for a hypothetical couple, unable to reach for any form of artificial lighting. Only daylight - and at any time of day - was to shape the atmosphere and functionality of the interior.
living room
© Jakub Ciszewski
Jakub Ciszewski decided to locate his project in the Portuguese village of Monsanto, known for its unusual, almost fairy-tale-like buildings incorporated into massive rock formations. This place, where nature and architecture have intermingled for centuries, became an inspiring backdrop for his concept. The site, located at the foot of a mountain massif, with monumental boulders integrated into the urban fabric, created ideal conditions for experimenting with natural light as an architectural material.
The goal of the project was not only to create a functional living space, but first and foremost to explore and use light as a tool of architectural narrative - a way of telling a story through the play of light and shadow. The result is a house that lives by the rhythm of the sun: it changes according to the time of day, influences the mood of the users and stimulates their senses.
dining room
© Jakub Ciszewski
architecture as a story
Ciszewski's design fits perfectly into current discussions about conscious and responsible design. At a time when technology is increasingly moving us away from direct contact with nature, this work is a reminder that daylight doesn't just illuminate a space - it creates it. The play of light and shadow, the subtle transitions between light and dark, the variation of mood - all of these influence the way residents perceive their surroundings.
The design takes advantage of the site's topography, natural obscurations and precisely planned architectural openings - such as skylights, gaps in the walls or fiber optics - that direct the sun's rays into selected parts of the interior. This adds depth to the space and allows users to experience it in an almost meditative way.
meditative space
© Jakub Ciszewski
honorable mention with potential
The distinction awarded to Jakub Ciszewski by the international jury is a recognition of his design maturity and creative awareness, which is rarely seen at the thesis stage. It is also a significant success for the entire Faculty of Architecture at the Silesian University of Technology, whose students are increasingly competing successfully on the international stage.
Not without significance is the fact that the competition evaluated not only aesthetics or creativity, but also the ability to integrate the designed solutions with the local context - both cultural and environmental. Ciszewski's design fit perfectly into these assumptions, harmoniously combining the history of the place with a modern approach to light architecture.
bedroom
© Jakub Ciszewski
Although the project is yet to be officially defended as part of the thesis, it can already be spoken of as a significant achievement by the young architect, which will certainly be noticed outside of academia as well. "The Home of Shadows" competition is a platform for creators who are able to go outside the box, think critically and design with empathy - and Jakub Ciszewski's work more than meets these criteria.
